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John  W»  Beckman 


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"  She  even  went  so  far  as  to  ask  Naomi  whether  she 
would  not  part  with  one  of  them. " 


THE  JEWISH  TWINS. 


BY 

AUNT   FRIENDLY. 


"  Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem  :  they  shall  prosper  that 
love  thee." 


NEW  YORK: 
ROBERT  CARTER  &  BROTHERS, 

No.   580   BKOADWAY. 
1861. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1860,  by 
ROBERT   CARTER  &  BROTHERS, 

la  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the   Southern 
District  of  New  York. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  PAGB 

I.— A  PEESENT 5 

II.— NAOMI'S  BOYS 11 

III.— THE  LITTLE  FRIEND 16 

IV.— PERCUSSION  CAPS 28 

V.— HUPPIM'S   VISIT 84 

VI.— THE  DREADED  NAME 43 

VIL— THE  PLAY-FELLOWS'  MEETING 48 

VIIL— PURIM  AT  JACOB  MYERS' 55 

IX.— THE  OLD  GENTLEMAN 64 

X.— THE  REWARD  CARD 76 

XL— THE  PASSOVER 85 

XII.— BEGINNINGS 97 

XIII.— THE  SICK-ROOM 109 

XIV.— GOOD  NEWS 118 

XV.— A  YOUNG  DISCIPLE 128 

XVI.— BRAVO 185 

XVII.— THE  ANNOUNCEMENT 148 

XVIIL— THE  PRISONER 152 

XIX.-DISCIPLINE 159 

XX.— MUPPIM 164 

XXI.— A  RESOLUTION.... 177 

XXII.— A  SURPRISE 186 

XXIII.— THE  OUTWARD  SIGN 194 

XXIV.— THE  TRUE  PASSOVER 197 

XXV.— A  REMOVAL 200 

XXVI.— A  CHRISTIAN    FAMILY 208 

XXVIL-CONCLUSION...                                            .  206 


THE  JEWISH  TWINS 


I. 


fACOB  MYERS  had  a  little  shop  on  a 
well-known  street-corner,  in  one  of 
our  Atlantic  cities. 

There,  on  pleasant  days,  ladies  came 
to  buy  cheap  edgings,  and  even  in  rainy 
weather  there  were  customers  who  stopped 
for  a  paper  of  pins,  or  for  a  spool  of  "40 
cotton/7  while  Jacob's  wife  sat  sewing  be 
hind  the  counter. 

Jacob  was  not  much  in  the  shop,  him 
self ;  he  spent  his  time  in  making  trips 
into  the  country,  to  sell  a  part  of  his  stock 
at  the  stray  farm-houses,  and  in  the  way 
side  villages.  Jacob  had  learned  to  go  to 
1* 


6  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

the  back  door  when  he  was  refused  at  the 
front,  and  he  was  sure  to  lighten  his  pack 
and  make  more  heavy  his  purse,  at  every 
kitchen  he  entered.  He  had  gilt  jewelry 
to  suit  all  tastes,  and  combs  for  "  a  mere 
song,"  not  to  speak  of  laces  and  buttons, 
at  what  he  declared  to  be  "  next  to  noth 
ing"  prices. 

Jacob  was  not  out  with  his  pack  at  the 
time  when  our  story  begins.  No  !  He  was 
in  his  own  shop,  looking  the  very  picture 
of  happiness.  Jacob  had  just  received  a 
present,  worth  exactly  twice  as  much  as 
the  thing  he  had  long  most  wished  for. 

Now  you  must  not  be  thinking  of  purses 
of  gold,  or  cargoes  of  lace  edgings.  Jacob 
valued  such  things  enough,  and  too  much 
doubtless,  but  he  valued  still  more  the 
gifts  a  kind  hand  had  sent  him . 

Back  of  the  shop  was  the  small  "  family 
room,"  with  a  stair-case  leading  out  of  it 
into  the  chamber  above. 


A   PRESENT.  7 

In  that  upper  room  were  Jacob's  treas 
ure's — two  little  black-eyed  baby-boys, 
twins,  as  "  alike  as  two  peas,"  and  each 
looking  about  him,  as  if  much  astonished 
at  finding  himself  in  such  a  queer  world, 
with  such  a  queer  little  brother  at  his 
side. 

Jacob's  wife,  Naomi,  seemed  as  well 
pleased  as  her  husband,  and  there  was  a 
sweet,  placid  joy  in  her  face  as  she  lay 
there",  with  her  twin-babies  beside  her. 

For  some  unknown  reason,  people 
choose  to  give  twins  names  just  as  nearly 
alike  as  possible,  without  being  exactly 
the  same,  as  if  it  were  not  puzzling  enough 
to  have  two  tiny  things  tottering  about, 
the  very  pictures  of  each  other,  without 
adding  to  the  difficulty. 

Jacob  Myers,  however,  was  not  wiser 
than  the  rest  of  mankind  in  this  particu 
lar,  as  we  shall  soon  see. 

Jacob  had  a  book  which  contained  the 


8  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

names  which  pleased  him  best,  yet  even 
there  he  was  puzzled  to  suit  himself  for 
the  twins.  Jacob's  book  was  a  Hebrew 
copy  of  the  Old  Testament ;  of  the  New 
Testament  he,  poor  man!  knew  nothing. 

Jacob  was  a  Jew,  one  of  the  same  na 
tion  who  once  occupied  the  land  of  Ca 
naan,  who  were  there  in  the  time  of  our 
Saviour,  and  are  now  scattered  over  the 
wide  earth. 

Wherever  the  Jew  goes,  he  takes  with 
him  his  Holy  Book,  the  Old  Testament. 
Even  poor  Jews  can  often  read  Hebrew, 
and  we  have  lately  heard  of  a  travelling 
pedler's  surprising  some  theological  stu 
dents,  at  their  Hebrew  studies,  by  reading 
to  them,  freely,  from  the  Old  Testament, 
in  the  language  in  which  it  was  written. 

Jacob  read  the  Scriptures  as  a  duty, 
though  we  cannot  say  that  it  was  with  de- 
voutness,  or  prayer. 

Now,  up  and  down  the  genealogies  Ja- 


A    PRESENT.  9 

cob  searched  and  searched,  but  at  last  his 
eye  brightened — he  had  happened  upon 
just  the  thing  for  his  purpose.  There 
were  the  names  of  the  sons  of  Benjamin— 
"  Muppim"  and  "  Hu-ppim" !  Why,  Jacob 
verily  thought  Benjamin  must  have  been 
blessed  like  himself,  with  two  babies  at 
once !  The  names  were  certainly  meant 
for  twins  !  The  discovery  was  forthwith 
announced  to  Naomi,  who  consented  to 
the  choice  without  a  word  of  objection ; 
she  did  not  feel  like  entering  into  a  dis 
cussion  then,  for  various  reasons.  Those 
two  black-eyed  boys  had  a  preciousness 
to  her  that  could  be  expressed  by  no  name  ; 
no  words  could  tell  it,  but  it  throbbed 
deep  down  in  her  true  mother's  heart. 

Naomi  had  been  speaking  to  some  one 
in  her  quiet  room,  when  she  had  been 
alone  with  her  babies.  Of  course  she  had 
talked  to  them  in  her  own  soft,  cooing, 
loving  way  ;  made  dear  little  sounds  that 


10  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

even  a  baby  ought  to  understand — but  that 
is  not  what  we  mean.  Naomi  had  spoken, 
slowly,  solemnly,  and  distinctly,  words  of 
thanksgiving  to  the  God  of  Israel  for  the 
great  blessing  He  had  bestowed  upon  her. 
She  had  asked  the  peculiar  care  of  the 
Lord  for  her  little  ones,  and  given  them 
back  to  Him  who  had  just  given  them  to 
her.  She  would  bring  them  up  in  the  fear 
of  the  Lord,  and  in  the  fulfilment  of  His 
Law. 

With  these  pious  thoughts  in  her  mind, 
Naomi  fell  asleep,  to  dream  of  seeing 
wings  sprouting  from  the  fat  shoulders  of 
her  baby-boys,  and  the  little  things  them 
selves  soaring  away  to  Heaven,  as  if  al 
ready  too  good  for  earth. 


n. 


fACOB  soon  tired  of  his  quiet  home- 
life,  though  he  had  many  a  chance  to 
refresh  himself  by  playing  with  his  babies, 
for  he  was  not  troubled  with  a  constant 
run  of  customers. 

He  was  quite  glad  when  Naomi  was 
once  more  sitting  in  the  shop  with  her 
needle  in  her  hand.  She  had  double  use 
for  it  now  that  the  twins  had  come. 

There  they  lay,  (Muppim  and  Huppim 
they  had  duly  been  named,)  and  in  the 
great  basket  by  their  mother  they  nestled, 
two  warm,  funny  little  things,  the  wonder 
of  all  the  neighborhood. 

(11) 


12  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Naomi's  shop  suddenly  grew  popular. 
The  children  would  not  buy  their  slate- 
pencils  anywhere  else.  Lonely  apprentice 
girls  stopped  there  to  get  needles  and  have 
a  peep  at  the  babies,  and  the  ladies  seemed 
to  want  more  edgings  than  ever  before. 
One  rich,  childless  widow  fairly  frightened 
Naomi  by  the  covetuous  way  in  which  she 
looked  at  the  little  dears.  She  even  went 
so  far  as  to  ask  Naomi  whether  she  could 
not  part  with  one  of  them. 

Naomi  would  have  had  her  own  black 
eyes  put  out  with  a  hot  iron  sooner.  So 
she  told  the  lady  plainly  ;  and  then  the 
stranger  looked  so  displeased,  and  went 
out  so  quickly,  that  Naomi  began  to  fear 
that  harm  was  coming  to  her  babies,  and 
that  it  was  hardly  safe  to  let  two  such 
treasures  be  seen  by  every  chance  customer. 
Babies  had  been  stolen — she  had  heard  of 
such  a  thing  !  She  was  half-sorry  she  had 
let  Jacob  go  off,  with  his  full  pack  on  his 


NAOMI'S  BOYS.  13 

back,  a  week  ago.  He  came  home  that 
night,  and  had  a  hearty  laugh  at  Naomi 
about  her  fears.  That  laugh  did  her  real 
good,  and  was  worth  more  than  a  whole 
half  hour  of  reasoning.  The  way  that  Ja 
cob  snugged  up  the  little  creatures  under 
his  great  coat,  showed  how  dear  they  were 
to  him,  and  yet  he  did  not  seem  afraid  of 
losing  them  !  Not  he  ! 

He  said  this  was  a  free  country,  and 
even  a  poor  Jew  need  not  be  afraid  of 
harm's  coming  to  his  humble  home. 

What  a  blessing  it  is  to  live  in  a  coun 
try  that  is  a  safe  refuge  for  the  ancient 
people  of  God  !  So  Naomi  thought,  and 
a  kindly  spirit  rose  in  her  towards  her 
adopted  home,  and  from  that  day  it  was 
dearer  to  her  than  the  forsaken  Poland 
of  her  childhood. 

Yes,  Muppim  and  Huppim  got  on  to  their 
two  feet,  or  rather  their  four  feet,  if  we 
speak  of  them  together,  and  tottered  about 
2 


14:  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

the  shop,  without  once  suspecting  that 
anybody  could  despise  a  Jew. 

The  world  seemed  a  very  pleasant  place 
to  the  little  fellow's,  for  Naomi  had  taught 
them  to  obey  while  they  were  in  her  arms, 
and,  now  that  they  could  run  alone,  they 
felt  the  advantage  of  being  wisely  ruled. 
Muppim  and  Huppim  had  others  than  their 
mother  to  cast  sunshine  on  their  daily 
life. 

The  droll  ways  of  the  two  round-head 
ed  little  brothers  made  friends  of  their 
mother's  customers,  and  Naomi's  face  was 
often  brightened  by  the  kind  words  be 
stowed  on  her  children. 

Years  went  by,  and  the  twins,  like 
other  boys,  passed  from  frocks  to  jackets 
and  trowsers,  and  from  thinking  their 
mother  the  wisest  woman  in  the  world,  to 
quite  too  good  an  opinion  of  themselves. 

You  must  not  think  that  the  brothers 
resembled  each  other  as  closely  all  this 


NAOMI'S  BOYS.  15 

time  as  they  did  when  they  first  lay  in  the 
basket  together. 

Before  many  months  had  passed  over 
their  heads,  Muppim  gave  signs  of  a  "  great 
sensible  nose,"  and  Huppim's  mouth  began 
to  fill  up  with  big  teeth,  that  quite  chang 
ed  his  expression.  As  their  characters 
grew  more  decided  the  differences  in 
creased,  and  Muppirn's  thoughtful  look  was 
as  unlike  Huppim's  merry  glance,  as  were 
his  quiet,  sage  sayings  to  the  droll  speeches 
of  his  brother. 

Strangers  still  continued  to  take  one 
for  the  other,  and  the  boys  often  had 
their  own  fun  with  the  customers  in  this 
way  ;  but  persons  who  knew  them  well 
had  no  trouble  in  distinguishing  them  at 
once.  Naomi's  joy  in  her  children  in 
creased  every  year  ;  and  when  they  were 
eight  years  old  she  was  heard  to  say,  that 
the  little  fellows  were  the  best  boys,  to 
her  belief,  in  the  whole  city. 


m. 

fittU 


(AC  OB  and  Naomi  Myers  had  lived 
for  several  years  in  the  same  house 
before  their  children  were  born,  yet  they 
had  not  made  a  single  acquaintance 
among  their  neighbors.  They  had  a  few 
Jewish  friends  in  other  parts  of  the  city, 
but  Naomi  was  not  fond  of  visiting.  She 
was  shy  and  home-loving  by  nature,  and 
Jacob  was  away  so  much  of  his  time  that 
he  was  glad  to  spend  his  Sabbaths  with 
his  wife,  and  cared  little  for  other  com 
pany. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  Muppim 
and  Huppim  would  settle  down  to  such  a 
secluded  life.  As  soon  as  they  were  able 

(16) 


THE   LITTLE   FRIEND.  17 

to  play  on  the  pavement  they  made  ac 
quaintances  among  the  boys  of  the  neigh 
borhood,  and  ere  long  had  a  special  favor 
ite  among  them.  Muppim  and  Huppim 
had  not  all  their  time  for  play  now  ;  they 
had  work  to  do,  and  tasks  to  learn,  and 
they  were  beginning,  too,  to  be  of  assist 
ance  to  their  mother  in  the  shop.  It  was 
a  proud  day  to  Muppim  when  he  sold  his 
first  paper  of  pins,  and  Huppim  soon  was 
able  to  boast  of  having  correctly  made 
change  for  a  dime  in  the  sale  of  a  skein  of 
sewing-silk ! 

Naomi  was  not  hard  upon  her  twins  ; 
she  knew  that  when  other  children  were 
out  with  their  sleds,  her  boys,  too,  wanted 
to  share  the  fan.  When  Charlie  Fay  put 
in  his  curly  head,  to  ask  if  Muppim  and 
Huppim  might  come  out  to  play  with  him, 
Naomi  rarely  said  "  No  I" 

Naomi  liked  Charlie  Pay,  partly  be 
cause  her  children  liked  his  fair,  sunny 
2* 


18  THE   JEWISH    TWINS. 

face,  and  partly  because  he  had  a  gentle 
look  in  his  blue  eyes,  and  such  tones  in 
his  voice  as  are  heard  where  there  is  a 
kindly,  well-governed  character. 

Often,  while  the  boys  were  at  play, 
Naomi's  glance  followed  them  through 
the  glass  door  of  the  shop,  and  that  glance 
was  full  of  love  to  them.  Naomi's  love 
found  a  way  of  winning  blessings  fo^  her 
children.  Not  only  did  she  pray  for  them 
morning  and  evening,  but  through  the 
long  day  there  was  prayer  in  her  heart 
for  them.  She  was  ever  asking  the  mercy 
of  the  God  of  Israel  for  them,  and  plead 
ing  that  they  might  be  guided  into  the 
knowledge  of  His  will. 

The  Old  Testament,  in  Hebrew,  was 
Naomi's  delight ;  she  loved  to  hear  Jacob 
read  it  on  Sabbath  evenings,  and  many 
of  its  beautiful  passages  she  had  treasured 
in  her  memory.  She  might  be  heard  re 
peating  the  Psalms  of  David  to  herself,  as 


THE   LITTLE   FRIEND.  19 

she  sat  at  her  work,  or  saying  aloud  some 
of  the  sublime  passages  in  Isaiah. 

Naomi  was  a  Scripture-loving,  con 
scientious  Jew.  Though  she  lived  among 
Christians,  she  knew  almost  as  little  of 
the  Christian  religion  as  if  she  had  been 
an  inhabitant  of  a  heathen  land. 

She  had  many  Christian  customers, 
truly,  but  they  spoke  to  her  of  needles 
and  thread,  and  buttons  and  pins,  with 
now  and  then  a  passing  remark  on  the 
weather.  They  had  never  thought  of 
winning  the  Jewess  to  a  knowledge  of  the 
true  Messiah.  Naomi  had  been  taught 
that  it  was  a  sin  even  to  look  into  the  New 
Testament,  and  she  had  no  idea  of  its 
contents. 

Knowing  what  were  their  mother's 
views,  you  will  not  be  surprised  to  learn 
that  Muppim  and  Huppim  were  growing 
up  two  as  complete  little  Jews  as  could  be 
found  in  our  Christian  land. 


20  THE  JEWISH   TWINS. 

It  was  with  regret  that  they  saw  Char 
lie  Fay  out  with  his  sled  and  his  ball  on 
their  Sabbath,  and  when  on  Sunday  they 
peered  at  him  through  the  window,  as  he 
passed  on  his  way  to  Sunday-school,  they 
wished  he  was  a  Jew  like  themselves. 
They  could  not  bear  to  feel  that  there 
was  any  separation  between  them  and 
their  chosen  friend. 

By  degrees,  Muppim  and  Huppim  were 
more  and  more  in  the  shop,  and  at  length, 
when  they  were  eleven  years  old,  it  seemed 
given  up  to  them  almost  entirely. 

Naomi  had  work  to  do  in  the  back 
room,  that  she  could  trust  to  no  one  else. 
She  had  another  little  black-eyed  baby 
on  her  knee — a  beautiful  creature  the 
twins  thought  him,  and  their  father  seemed 
much  of  the  same  opinion. 

This  baby  Jacob  called  Ard,  for,  he 
said,  having  in  his  family  the  names  of 
two  of  the  sons  of  Benjamin,  he  meant  to 


THE   LITTLE   FRIEND.  21 

finish  with  a  third.  So  u  Muppim,  Hup- 
pim,  and  Ard  "  were  duly  registered  as 
the  children  of  Jacob  and  Naomi  Myers. 

Now  there  was  a  new  attraction  for 
Charlie  Fay  at  his  next-door  neighbor's. 
Charlie  was  the  only  son  of  his  widowed 
mother,  and  the  privilege  of  holding  a 
baby  was  quite  a  novelty  to  him. 

Charlie  Fay  seemed  to  have  a  natural 
talent  for  taking  care  of  children,  and 
when  Ard  would  not  stop  crying  for  any 
thing  else,  he  would  smile  at  the  sight  of 
Charlie,  and  be  quite  content  if  he  could 
get  his  fingers  fast  among  the  little  visit 
or's  light  curls. 

So  Charlie  Fay  grew  more  and  more 
dear  to  Naomi,  for  shQ  had  a  real  mother's 
heart,  and  could  be  won  through  her 
children.  With  the  apples  for  Muppim 
and  Huppim,  one  was  often  placed  for 
Charlie  ;  and  when  winter  came,  Naomi 
knit,  with  her  own  hands,  a  warm  tippet 


22  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

for  the  little  neighbor,  just  like  that  worn 
by  her  own  boys. 

Naomi  had  never  said  to  herself  or  to 
him  that  she  loved  Charlie  Pay,  the  Chris 
tian  boy,  but  he  knew  it,  and  she  knew  it. 
Though  it  had  never  been  put  into  words, 
it  had  been  told  in  a  surer  language. 


IV. 


and  various  were  the  trifling 
"  received 

from  their  mother's  customers.  The  fact 
was,  they  were  general  favorites.  One 
odd  old  gentleman  often  came  to  the  shop, 
as  much  to  talk  to  the  children  as  to  make 
purchases.  He  liked  to  puzzle  the  boys 
with  queer  questions,  and  hear  their  quick 
replies. 

"  Now,  Muppim,"  said  Mr.  Thayer,  one 
morning,  "Now,  Muppim,  I've  brought 
something  to  set  you  a  thinking.  If  you 
will  guess  what  these  little  bright  boxes 
are  for,  I  will  give  you  —  let  me  see  —  I  will 
give  you  the  whole  case  full  of  them  !" 

Mr.  Thayer  had  on  a  rough  suit  of 

(23) 


24  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

clothes,  and  carried  in  his  hand  a  bag 
which  the  boys  well  knew  that  he  used 
when  he  made  his  trips  to  the  country  to 
hunt  and  fish  for  a  few  days. 

"  I  want  some  strong  twine,"  said  the 
old  gentleman,  "  and  while  you  put  me  up 
a  ball  of  it,  you  can  have  your  thinking 
caps  on." 

The  ball  was  promptly  rolled  up,  and 
then  Mr.  Thayer  said,  "  Well,  Muppim, 
Where's  your  answer  ?" 

"  I  suppose,"  said  the  boy,  "  you  use  them 
when  you  go  hunting  ;  you  put  them  on 
your  gun,  when  it  goes  off!" 

"  Good !  good !  Did  you  ever  see  any 
before  ?  "  said  the  gentleman,  clapping  his 
hands. 

"  No,  sir;  but  Fve  heard  Charlie  Fay  tell 
about  them,  and  he  says  its ,  real  fun  to 
pound  them,  and  hear  them  go  off!" 

"  Dangerous  sort  of  fun,  I  should  think," 
said  Mr.  Thayer,  "  but  you  must  have  the 


PERCUSSION   CAPS.  25 

percussion  caps,  Muppim.  Ill  warrant 
you'll  sell  them,  and  get  a  pretty  price, 
too  !  The  old  gentleman  placed  the  little 
box  of  caps  in  Muppirn's  hand,  who  looked 
up  half-doubtingly,  as  if  he  perhaps  ought 
not  to  accept  them. 

"  Never  fear,  child  ;  take  them,  they  are 
fairly  yours,"  said  Mr.  Thayer,  leaving  the 
shop. 

"  I'll  give  them  to  Charlie,"  said  Mup 
pim,  with  a  bright  smile  on  his  face. 

"  And  111  see  him  crack  them  off!"  said 
Huppim,  joyously. 

That  afternoon,  while  the  baby  was 
asleep,  Naomi  went  into  the  shop,  and  gave 
the  boys  liberty  to  go  out  for  a  little  play. 
Their  voices  were  no  sooner  heard  on 
the  pavement  than,  they  were  joined  by 
Charlie  Pay. 

Soon    there  was  an  ominous  snapping 
and  cracking,  like  the  explosion  of  fire* 
arms.     Naomi  hastened  to  the  door. 
3 


26  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Charlie  Pay  was  bending  over  the  curb* 
stone,  and  was  preparing  to  strike  with  a 
smoothing-iron  he  held  in  his  hand,  some 
bright  little  things  that  lay  on  the  stone. 
The  blow  came  down,  and  the  next  mo 
ment  Charlie's  screams  filled  the  air,  and 
his  hands  were  pressed  upon  his  eyes. 

After  this,  Charlie  Fay  was  not  out  on 
the  pavement  for  many  a  day.  The  Doc 
tor  came  and  went  from  his  mother's  house, 
and  Muppim  and  Huppim  almost  wept 
their  eyes  out,  to  hear  that  Charlie  might 
be  left  blind  by  the  accident. 

Pieces  of  the  percussion  caps  had  en 
tered  his  eyes,  and  it  was  feared  that  his 
sight  was  lost  forever. 

Naomi  was  surprised  to  find  how  deeply 
she  was  grieved.  But  for  her  shyness,  she 
would  have  gone  herself  to  inquire  at  the 
door  for  the  poor  little  patient,  and  to  ex 
press  her  sympathy  for  the  mother.  As  it 
was,  Muppim  and  Huppim  were  as  regular 


PERCUSSION    CAPS.  27 

in  their  appearance  at  Mrs.  Fay's  as  the 
milk-man,  at  morning  and  evening. 

They  had  never  gained  admittance,  the 
sorrowful  answer  being  always  returned, 
that  Charlie  was  no  better. 

One  day.  to  their  surprise,  they  were 
invited  to  walk  in  :  "  We  must  ask  our 
mother  first,"  said  Muppim,  doubtfully. 

Naomi  had  never  allowed  her  children 
to  enter  Mrs.  Fay's  house,  or  that  of  any 
other  Christian,  excepting  upon  necessary 
business  ;  this,  she  thought,  merely  keep 
ing  them  out  of  temptation. 

Now  the  case  seemed  to  her  quite  differ 
ent.  This  was  an  act  of  mercy,  like 
pulling  a  "  neighbor's  ox  out  of  a  pit — " 
there  certainly  could  be  no  harm  in  this  ! 
Her  loving  heart  yearned  towards  her 
fair-haired  pet,  her  own  Ard's  pretty 
nurse. 

Yet  Naomi  paused,  and  was  silent  for 
a  moment,  when  the  boys  came  in,  eager 


28  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

with  their  request.  She  looked  from  one 
to  the  other,  as  if  weighing  their  several 
capabilities,  and  then  said, "  I  can  trust 
you,  Muppim,  for  five  minutes  ;  but  pray, 
as  you  cross  the  threshold,  that  the  God 
of  Israel  will  keep  his  own  truth  bright 
in  your  heart." 

"  I  will,  mother,  I  will/7  said  Muppim, 
soberly.  "  I  ought  to  go,  for  it  was  my 
fault  that  it  all  happened." 

"  It  was  Mr.  Thayer's  fault— Good  Fa 
ther  Thayer,  to  blame  you  are !  you  had 
better  take  care,  or  Huppim  Myers  will 
put  you  in  fires,"  said  the  other  brother, 
with  a  laugh.  "  You  go  now,  Muppim  ; 
your  solemncholy  face  will  suit  now,  but 
when  Charlie  gets  better,  hell  want  me, 
I  tell  you,  to  make  him  laugh." 

"  Very  likely,"  said  Muppim,  quietly,  as 
he  went  out  the  door. 

Muppim  did  not  forget  his  mother's  pre 
caution,  as  he  entered  the  Christian's  home. 


PERCUSSION   CAPS.  29 

Muppim  was  almost  a  stranger  to  Mrs. 
Fay.  He  had  seen  her  from  time  to  time 
at  her  door,  and  heard  her  kind  voice 
speaking  to  her  child,  but  a  passing  bow 
was  all  he  had  ever  received  from  her. 

Her  black  dress,  and  the  signs  of  deep 
sorrow  on  her  face,  made  the  children 
associate  something  gloomy  with  her,  and 
the  twins  had  often  wondered  how  Charlie 
could  have  so  bright  a  face,  when  his 
mother  was  his  only  companion  at  home. 

Now,  Muppim  expected  to  see  Mrs.  Fay 
more  gloomy  than  ever,  and  he  half 
dreaded  a  scolding  from  her,  as  he  was 
really,  in  a  measure,  the  cause  of  the  acci 
dent. 

The  woman  who  had  the  lower  floor  of 
the  house  let  Muppim  in,  and  up  stairs  he 
went,  finding  his  way  to  the  door  that 
was  pointed  out.  His  knock  was  soon 
answered. 

"  Why,  Muppim !  come  in,  dear/7  said 
3* 


30  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Mrs.  Fay,  in  a  cheerful  tone.  "  Charlie 
will  be  delighted  to  have  you  here." 

"  Muppiin  I"  The  voice  called  from  the 
darkest  corner  of  the  room,  where  Charlie 
Fay  was  sitting,  with  a  bandage  over  his 
eyes. 

"  Dear,  dear  Charlie,"  said  Muppim, 
who  was  at  his  side,  in  a  moment.  "I  am 
so  sorry.  Won't  you  ever  see  again  ?" 

"  Perhaps  not  1"  said  Charlie,  very 
quietly. 

"  Oh !  Charlie,  don't  say  so !"  said 
Muppim,  taking  both  his  friend's  hands  in 
his. 

"  I  want  to  see  again,  of  course,"  said 
Charlie,  "but  God  will  do  forme  just 
what  is  right." 

Mrs.  Fay  slipped  silently  out  of  the 
room  to  hide  her  own  tears,  and  the  two 
boys  were  left  together. 

"  What  do  you  do  when  you  are  here, 
shut  up  ?"  said  Muppim,  trying  to  change 


PERCUSSION    CAPS.  31 

the  subject.  "  Sometimes  mother  reads 
to  rue ;  and  when  I  am  alone  I  say 
over  hymns  to  myself;  and  then  I  know 
a  great  deal  of  Scripture,  and  I  think 
about  that.  I  say  *  The  Lord  is  my  shep 
herd,  I  shall  not  want/  very  often." 

"Do  you  know  that?"  said  Muppim, 
brightening. 

"  Yes,  that  is  one  of  my  favorites/7  said 
Charlie.  "I  like  that  part  about  '  I  shall 
fear  no  evil/  " 

Much  as  the  two  boys  had  been  to 
gether,  they  had  never  spoken  to  each 
other  of  the  deep  religious  earnestness 
that  was  alive  in  the  hearts  of  both.  Now 
they  seemed  suddenly  united  by  a  new 
bond. 

Muppim  found  in  Charlie  a  something 
which  he  had  missed  in  his  own  brother. 
Together  the  twins  studied  their  Scripture 
lessons  and  prayed,  but  with  one  it  was  a 
mere  outward  thing,  while  the  other  had 


32  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

felt  that  there  was  a  solemn  pleasure  in 
anything  that  brought  him  near  to  God. 

"  Charlie,"  said  Muppim,  drawing  close 
to  his  friend,  "  Charlie,  I  love  you — we 
have  missed  you  so  !  Mother  says  she 
wishes  she  could  see  you  again,  and  Ard 
won't  be  still  for  anybody.  Mother  thinks 
he  is  fretting  after  you." 

"  The  dear  little  chap  !"  said  Charlie, 
warmly  ;  "  I  should  like  to  give  him  one 
toss-up. 

"  Why,  Muppim  !  it  makes  me  feel  real 
well  to  have  you  here !" 

u  Then  I'll  come  again  very  soon.  I 
can't  stay  any  longer  now  ;  mother  only 
gave  me  five  minutes." 

"  I  see  you  keep  up  to  '  honor  thy  father 
and  thy  mother/  "  said  Charlie,  with  a 
pleasant  smile. 

"  That's  my  mark  !"  said  Muppim,  sober 
ly.  The  text  had  been  in  his  mind  at  the 
moment,  as  he  was  tempted  to  overstay 


PERCUSSION   CAPS.  33 

the  time  his  mother  had  allowed  him  for 
his  visit. 

Again  he  felt  the  new  bond  between 
him  and  his  friend. 

Ah,  the  Jews  who  train  their  children 
in  the  scriptures  of  the  Old  Testament, 
are  preparing  them  for  good  things.  It 
is  the  Jew  who  is  lost  in  the  love  of  gain, 
who  insures  for  his  children  the  curse 
pronounced  on  his  doomed  nation. 


V. 


y/ifjXN  the  morning  after  Muppim's  visit  to 
^J^  Charlie  Pay,  Naomi  and  her  children 
were  in  the  "  family-room,"  while  Jacob, 
who  chanced  to  be  at  home,  was  busy  in 
the  shop. 

Huppim  had  been  puffing  out  his  cheeks 
and  suddenly  knocking  them  flat  with  his 
brown  hands,  while  Ard's  little  face  broke 
into  pretty  smiles  at  every  explosion. 

Muppim  was  poring  over  his  father's 
copy  of  the  Hebrew  scriptures.  He  had 
found  the  twenty-  third  Psalm,  and  was 
trying  to  remember  the  exact  English 
words  in  which  Charlie  Fay  had  translat 
ed  it. 

It  was  a  new  thing  to  Muppim  to  hear 

(34) 


HUPPIM'S  VISIT.  35 

scripture  from  a  Christian's  lips,  and  he 
had  thought  not  a  little  about  his  inter 
view  of  the  day  before.  He  had  been 
taught  that  the  Christians  had  a  false  Bi 
ble,  and  that  their  religion  was  a  poor 
idolatry,  to  be  dreaded  and  avoided  by 
the  Jews,  the  true  people  of  God.  Was 
Charlie,  then,  a  Jew  at  heart?  This 
question  was  in  Muppim's  mind,  as  he  re 
membered  the  tone  of  real  pleasure  in 
which  Charlie  had  spoken  the  sentence, 
"  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd." 

Muppirn's  meditations  were  suddenly 
disturbed  by  an  unusual  bound  on  the 
part  of  his  brother,  and  the  exclamation, 
"  There,  now  !  it  is  past  9  o'clock,  and  I 
want  to  be  off  to  see  Charlie  Fay.  May 
I,  mother  ?" 

Naomi  had  been  deeply  touched  by 
Muppim's  account  of  Charlie's  gentleness 
and  patience,  and  she  had  made  up  her 
mind  that  her  boys  should  do  all  in  their 


36  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

power  to  cheer  him  in  his  time  of  misfor 
tune. 

Now  she  laid  aside  her  sewing  quickly, 
and,  taking  out  a  worn  purse  from  her 
pocket,  she  said,  "  Yes,  Huppim,  go  com 
fort  Charlie  as  well  as  you  can,  and  take 
him  an  orange,  too.  Mind  you  make  a 
good  bargain,  and  don't  stay  more  than 
half  an  hour." 

Huppim  took  the  pennies  his  mother 
held  out  to  him,  and  was  skipping  away 
when  a  sudden  thought  struck  him.  "  Til 
carry  in  the  buttons  to  sort ;  it  will  please 
Charlie,  may  be,  to  do  it  with  me." 

Naomi  reached  down  the  box  of  mixed 
buttons,  and  handed  them  to  Huppim, 
who  went  off  happy  as  a  king. 

Huppim's  idea  was  a  good  one.  Occu 
pation  was  just  what  Charlie  needed.  He 
had  borne  up  bravely  so  far,  but  now  he 
must  have  company  and  employment.  He 
must  have  that,  even  if  his  eyesight  were 


HUPPIM'S  VISIT.  37 

not    restored ;  he  might  be  useful  and 
cheerful. 

Charlie  was  not  above  being  pleased 
with  the  orange,  and  he  thanked  Huppim 
heartily  for  it,  but  the  buttons  were  even 
more  welcome.  It  was  a  pleasure  to  him 
to  find  out  how  readily  he  could  distin 
guish  the  various  kinds,  by  carefully  ex 
amining  them  with  his  fingers,  and  at 
length  he  took  the  task  of  sorting  them  en 
tirely  upon  himself,  while  Huppim  sat  by, 
sewing  them  diligently  upon  fresh  blue 
papers,  so  as  to  make  them  look  as  they 
did  when  they  were  new. 

"  See,  mother,"  said  Charlie,  with  de 
light,  "  I  can  tell  the  porcelain  ones  in  a 
moment  from  the  horn  ones.  I  have  not 
made  a  single  mistake  yet,  have  I,  Hup 
pim  ?" 

"  You  do    it  first-rate,"  said  Huppirn. 

"  Very  nicely  1"  said  the  mother,  in  a 
low  voice. 
4 


38  THE  JEWISH  TWINS. 

If  Charlie  had  not  been  very  busy 
about  his  work,  he  would  have  noticed 
the  sad  tones  of  his  mother's  voice. 

Huppim  gave  him  no  chance  for  dwell 
ing  upon  any  thoughts  just  then,  for  he 
broke  in,  saying, — 

"  Suppose  I  tell  you  a  story,  Charlie  ; 
would  you  like  it  ?" 

"  Indeed  I  should  !"  was  the  quick  re 
ply. 

Huppim  began,  much  as  if  he  was 
reading  from  a  book,  "  Rabbi  Hillel  was 
a  very  meek  man.  One  day  somebody 
made  a  bet  that  no  one  could  make  the 
Rabbi  angry.  One  fellow  came  to  the 
Rabbi,  when  he  was  in  a  hurry  getting 
ready  for  the  Sabbath,  and  asked  him  a 
great  many  foolish  questions,  enough  to 
put  any  body  out  of  patience  ;  but  the  Rab 
bi,  instead  of  getting  angry,  answered 
every  one  in  the  pleasantest  way  in  the 
world.  So  this  fellow  did  not  make  out. 


HUPPIM'S  VISIT.  39 

Then  another  thought  he  would  try  ;  so  he 
came  to  the  Rabbi,  and  said,  *  Can  you 
teach  me  the  whole  law  during  the  time  I 
can  stand  on  one  foot  V  '  Yes/  said  the 
Rabbi, '  for  the  whole  law  is  in  this  short 
sentence,  "  Whatever  you  would  not  wish 
your  neighbor  to  do  to  you,  do  it  not  to 
him."  This  is  the  whole  law/  Was  not 
that  a  smart  answer  ?" 

"  It  was  so  !"  said  Charlie,  warmly.  "  I 
think  that  Rabbi  was  a  remarkable  man. 
If  anything  puts  me  out  of  patience,  it  is 
being  questioned  when  I  am  in  a  hurry." 

"  Then  you  ought  not  to  have  Mr. 
Thayer  to  deal  with.  He's  the  one  for 
questions  I"  said  Huppim. 

The  clock  here  struck  out  plainly. 
Huppim  jumped.  "  I  declare,"  he  said, 
"  I  have  been  here  ever  so  many  minutes 
more  than  mother  said,  so  I  must  be  off  in 
a  twinkling.  I'll  leave  the  buttons,  Char 
lie  I" 


40  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

"  Yes,  do  !  and  tell  Muppim  I  want  to 
see  him." 

Huppim  answered  "  Ay  !  ay  I"  from  the 
stair-way,  as  he  went  bounding  down 
three  steps  at  a  time. 

Mrs.  Pay  closed  the  door,  and  sat  down 
beside  her  boy. 

"  Mother/'  he  said,  as  he  laid  his  head 
on  her  shoulder,  u  Mother,  I  may  be  able 
to  be  of  some  use  to  you,  even  if  I  am 
blind.  I  mean  to  try  to  learn  to  do  all  I 
can,  and  then  I  shall  not  be  a  burden  to 
you." 

Charlie  spoke  cheerfully,  but  the  words 
went  straight  home  like  a  pang  to  his 
mother's  heart. 

"  I  do  not  believe  you  are  to  be  blind, 
my  own  dear  boy,"  she  said,  while  the 
tears  filled  her  eyes  to  overflowing.  "  I 
do  not  let  myself  think  of  that  as  possi 
ble." 

"  But   I  do,   mother ;  and   somehow,  I 


HUPPIM'S  VISIT.  41 

think  God  is  going  to  answer  in  this  way 
a  prayer  I  have  made  night  and  morning 
for  a  long  time.  I  have  asked  God  to  let 
me  be  very  useful  in  this  world,  and  teach 
a  great  many  people  to  love  him.  I  think 
I  wanted  to  do  great  things  ;  and  perhaps 
he  is  going  to  let  me  be  useful,  but  make 
me  blind,  too,  to  keep  me  humble." 

Mrs.  Pay  bowed  down  beside  the  bed, 
and  prayed  and  wept  in  silence. 

Had  not  she,  too,  been  full  of  pride  in 
her  noble  boy  ?  Had  not  she,  too,  thought 
of  the  "  great  tilings"  he  would  do  in  the 
world,  and  of  the  praise  he  would  win 
from  men  ? 

When  Mrs.  Pay  rose  from  her  knees, 
it  was  to  kiss  Charlie  very  tenderly,  and 
to  say  to  him,  "  We  will  not  talk  about 
the  future,  darling,  we  have  only  to  bear 
our  present  trials.  You  will  be  happier 
to  be  occupied  now,  and  it  will  do  you  no 
harm,  whether  you  see  again  or  not.  We 
4* 


42  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

know  that  God  will  arrange  all  things  in 
the  best  way." 

Charlie  broke  forth  singing  the  hymn, 

"  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way," 

and  when  he  came  to  the  lines, 

"  The  bud  may  have  a  bitter  taste, 
But  sweet  will  be  the  flower," 

so  beautiful  a  smile  passed  over  his  face, 
that  his  mother  felt  that  she  could  already 
see  the  blessed  effects  of  his  affliction,  and 
thenceforward  would  stifle  every  murmur. 
She  had  prayed  that  her  son  might  be 
a  faithful,  useful  follower  of  Jesus,  and 
she  would  have  the  Lord  answer  her 
prayers  in  his  own  wise  way. 


VI. 


0|tfYAOMI  bad  given  her  promise  that 
(§^r  one  of  the  boys  should  visit  Charlie 
each  day,  and  they  peaceably  agreed  to 
take  turns,  as  their  mother  could  not  well 
spare  them  both  at  once. 

When  Muppim  prepared  for  his  inter 
view  the  next  day,  he  was  careful  to  take 
with  him  the  Hebrew  Scriptures,  with  a 
mark  put  in  at  the  twenty-third  Psalm. 

"  You  are  going  to  read  to  Charlie  ; 
that  is  kind,"  said  Mrs.  Fay,  noticing  the 
book. 

"  I  can  only  read  Hebrew  ;  mother  did 
not  care  to  have  us  learn  to  read  English," 
said  Muppim,  shyly. 

"  Read  me  some  Hebrew  —  I  should  so 

(43) 


44  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

like  to  hear  the  sound  of  it,"  said  Charlie, 
eagerly.  There  was  something  delightful 
to  Charlie  in  the  idea  of  hearing  even  a 
few  words  of  that  ancient  language  spoken 
by  Moses  and  the  prophets. 

"  You  must  wait  until  I  go  out,  before 
you  begin  such  learned  proceedings,"  said 
Mrs.  Pay,  with  a  smile.  "  How  long  can 
you  stay,  Muppim  ?" 

"  A  whole  hour  to-day,  mother  says," 
was  Muppim's  joyous  answer. 

"Then,  Charlie,  I  shall  take  a  walk, 
and  attend  to  all  my  business  for  the  day," 
said  the  mother. 

The  boys  had  some  pleasant  chat  while 
Mrs.  Fay  was  making  her  preparations, 
but  as  soon  as  she  closed  the  door,  Char 
lie  broke  out,  "  Now  for  the  reading, 
Muppim." 

Muppim  read  aloud  the  twenty-third 
Psalm,  and  as  he  closed,  before  Charlie 
could  speak,  he  said,  "  Say  what  you  did 


THE   DREADED   NAME.  45 

yesterday,  Charlie,  '  The  Lord  is  my 
«  shepherd.' " 

Charlie  repeated  the  whole  Psalm, 
while  Muppim  followed  him  in  the  He 
brew,  with  his  finger  passing  along  the 
page,  and  his  eye  full  of  delight.  "  It  is 
just  the  same  ;  just  the  same  as  I  have  it 
here !  Do  you  know  ,any  more,  Char 
lie  ?" 

Charlie  recited  the  103d  and  the  51st 
Psalms,  while  Muppim  looked  over,  with 
the  same  pleasure  as  before. 

"  Do  you  like  the  Jews,  Charlie?"  asked 
Muppim,  abruptly. 

"  Indeed  I  do — I  would  rather  be  a  Jew 
than  belong  to  any  other  nation,"  said 
Charlie,  warmly. 

Muppim  took  his  friend's  hand,  and 
looked  eagerly  into  his  face.  Charlie's 
speaking  eyes  were  hidden  from  sight ; 
he  could  not  see  Muppim's  searching, 
questioning  gaze,  nor  could  Muppim  find 


46  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

his  answer  in  his  companion's  tranquil 
countenance. 

"  I  love  the  Jews,  and  mother  loves 
them,  too/'  said  Charlie. 

Muppim  was  silent  for  a  moment,  and 
then  he  said,  suddenly,  "  Can  you  say  the 
Ten  Commandments  ?" 

Charlie  repeated  them  slowly  and  rever 
ently,  as  he  had  been  taught  to  recite  the 
word  of  God  ;  and  as  he  finished,  he  said, 
"  I  learned  those  when  I  was  a  little  bit 
of  a  boy,  Muppim  ;  and  I  say  them  over 
every  night,  and  try  to  think  whether  I 
have  broken  any  of  them." 

"  Of  course  you  don't  break  any  of 
them,  but  may-be  the  tenth,"  said  Muppim.  * 

"I  mean  whether  I  have  broken  them 
in  my  heart,"  said  Charlie,  soberly. 

"  If  you  break  a  commandment,  how 
dare  you  go  to  sleep  ?"  said  Muppim,  with 
his  eyes  wide  open  ;  "  I  always  feel  as  if 
something  dreadful  would  carry  me  off,  aa 


THE   DREADED    NAME.  47 

the  devil  came  after  Rabbi  ben  Rikel's 
son,  when  he  fell  asleep  at  his  prayers." 

"  I  am  not  afraid  to  go  to  sleep,  be 
cause  I  ask  pardon  for  the  sake  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,"  said  Charlie. 

Muppim  started  up  suddenly,  and  re 
peating  the  prayer,  that  "  The  Lord  would 
keep  His  truth  bright  in  his  heart,"  the 
young  Jew  hurried  from  the  room.  He 
had  made  up  his  mind  never  to  hear  the 
name  of  Jesus  mentioned,  so  he  should  be 
sure  to  keep  out  of  temptation.  Charlie 
was  for  a  few  moments  puzzled  to  under 
stand  Muppim's  sudden  departure,  but  at 
length  he  guessed  the  true  reason.  Charlie 
was  not  lonely  during  the  half-hour  that 
passed  before  his  mother  returned  ;  he  was 
too  busily  occupied  in  mind  to  think  of 
loneliness,  or  time.  He  was  praying,  oh, 
how  earnestly  !  for  his  Jewish  friends,  and 
asking  wisdom  to  guide  them  into  the 
knowledge  of  Jesus,  the  true  Messiah. 


VII. 

$)lBjf*H0tos'  fluting, 


took  his  Hebrew  Bible  no 
more  to  Charlie  Fay's.  He  had 
no  more  talks  with  him  about  Psalms  or 
Commandments.  Yet  the  twins  were 
faithful  in  their  visits  to  the  little  pris 
oner.  Huppim  was  most  ingenious  in 
finding  occupation  for  Charlie  ;  he  had 
twine  to  untangle,  and  twine  to  be  rolled 
up  ;  indeed,  the  shop  was  always  sure  to 
yield  some  work  to  be  done,  when  Hup 
pim  went  to  pass  his  hour  with  the  patient 
boy.  Huppim  was  full  of  out-door  life, 
and  stories  of  out-door  fun  ;  he  had  a 
store  of  anecdotes  laid  up  of  what  he  had 
seen  in  the  street,  to  amuse  Charlie  ;  and 

(48) 


THE  PLAYFELLOWS'  MEETING.       49 

then  Ard's  baby- ways  were  always  certain 
to  interest  his  old  playfellow. 

Ard,  meanwhile,  was  coming  on  finely. 
Although  he  chose  not  to  use  his  sturdy 
legs  for  walking,  he  could  creep  about  the 
floor  so  fast  as  to  wear  off  the  toes  of  a 
pair  of  new  shoes  in  a  week,  and  his  little 
teeth  were  sharp  enough  to  leave  their 
marks  on  everything  they  touched,  as 
Naomi's  baby-spoon  showed  very  plainly. 
Ard  was  talking  more  and  more,  too,  and 
Huppim  thought  it  would  do  Charlie  real 
good  to  hear  him  ;  Mrs.  Fay  thought  so 
too,  and  so  Ard  was  brought  in  one  day, 
by  his  merry  brother,  to  pay  Charlie  a 
visit.  A  great  clumsy  bundle,  done  up  in 
a  shawl,  he  seemed,  as  he  was  deposited 
on  the  floor  to  be  unrolled.  Then  out 
came  the  fattest,  brownest,  most  dark- 
eyed  little  fellow  Mrs.  Fay  had  ever  seen. 

"  Ard  !    Ard  !    don't  you  know  me  !  " 
said    Charlie,    stooping    down    tenderly 
5 


50  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

beside  the  child.  The  sturdy  boy  pushed 
Charlie  back  with  his  stout  hands,  and 
said,  "  Way,  way  !  way,  way !  " 

Charlie  put  his  arm  round  the  little  fel 
low,  and  began  to  sing,  in  a  cheerful  voice, 
a  lively  tune,  of  which  Ard  had  been  very 
fond. 

The  child  looked  up  wonderingly,  and 
then,  with  a  sudden  movement,  snatched 
the  bandage  from  Charlie's  eyes. 

"  Do  you  know  Charlie,  now  ?"  said  the 
poor  boy. 

Ard  made  no  answer,  but  nestled  con 
tentedly  beside  his  old  friend. 

"Oh!  you  seem  like  yourself,  now!" 
exclaimed  Huppim.  A  sad  smile  passed 
over  Charlie's  face,  and  he  dropped  his 
lids  till  the  long  lashes  lay  on  his  pale 
cheeks. 

"  Let  me  see  your  eyes,"  said  Huppim, 
who  was  not  troubled  with  any  particular 
delicacy  of  feeling. 


THE  PLAYFELLOWS'  MEETING.       51 

"  They  are  quite  healed  now,  and  the 
doctor  says  they  will  be  better  without 
the  bandage,"  said  Mrs.  Fay,  quietly. 
"  Ard  has  helped  us  to  carry  out  the  good 
doctor's  prescription." 

Charlie  had  shrunk  from  taking  off  the 
bandage.  While  it  covered  his  eyes  he 
could  fancy  that  its  folds  kept  out  the 
light ;  he  feared,  too,  that  his  sightless 
eyes  would  give  pain  to  all  who  looked 
upon  him,  and  draw  forth  disgust  as  well 
as  pity. 

His  mother  knew  that  one  who  had  so 
meekly  bowed  to  the  will  of  Heaven  when 
blindness  was  sent  him,  would  not  long 
be  ruled  by  such  a  little  weakness,  and 
she  had  gently  let  him  have  his  way. 

Ard's  busy  hands  had  come  in  to  do 
what  the  mother  had  left  for  time. 

For  a  few  moments  Charlie  sat  silent 
and  with  downcast  eyes,  after  Huppim's 
abrupt  expression  of  his  wish. 


52  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Those  few  moments  were  spent  in  pray 
er.  Charlie  asked  to  be  enabled  to  take 
with  cheerful  submission  every  circum 
stance  connected  with  his  misfortune ; 
then  he  was  ready  to  lift  those  long  lash 
es,  and  to  show  his  sightless  eyes  to  his 
friend. 

There  was  nothing  in  that  exhibition  to 
shock  the  most  sensitive  of  beings,  and 
Huppim  by  no  means  belonged  to  that 
class. 

"  Why,  they  don't  look  badly  a  bit, 
Charlie  !  They  are  just  as  blue  as  ever, 
and  only  have  a  little  white  spot  where 
the  black  one  used  to  be,  in  the  middle. 
Why,  it  don't  seem  as  if  you  could  be 
blind  !  I  never  saw  your  face  when  I 
liked  it  half  as  well  1"  said  Huppim,  with 
surprise  in  his  tones. 

Mrs.  Fay  had  listened  anxiously  to  the 
first  part  of  his  speech,  fearing  its  effect 
upon  her  dear  boy  ;  but  Charlie  was 


THE  PLAYFELLOWS'  MEETING.       53 

stayed  upon  a  rock !  There  was  truly  an 
expression  upon  his  young  face  which 
beautified  him  in  his  blindness ! 

The  mother  drew  near,  and  kissed  him 
tenderly  as  she  said,  "  I  have  no  fears  for 
you  now,  my  son !  God  will  sustain  you, 
and  make  you  useful  and  beloved." 

"  Heaven  will  seem  all  the  more  beauti 
ful  to  me,  when  I  come  out  of  this  dark 
ness  I"  said  Charlie,  as  he  leaned  his  head 
against  his  mother.  "  I  never  felt  happier 
in  my  life,  and  you  were  never  half  so  dear 
to  me.  God  has  helped  me  to  bear  this 
trial,  and  all  seems  bright  to  me  now." 

Ard's  little  hand  was  passed  tenderly 
down  Charlie's  cheek  at  that  moment,  and, 
as  if  a  forgotten  tune  had  suddenly  come 
to  his  mind,  the  child  murmured  "  Char- 
char — Char-char,"  so  lovingly,  that  Char 
lie  stooped  down  to  kiss  him,  and  hugged 
him  close  in  his  arms. 

Huppim  gave  a  full  account  of  that  visit 
5* 


54  THE  JEWISH  TWINS. 

at  the  dinner-table  that  day.  Not  a  word 
or  look  had  escaped  his  observing  eyes. 
Charlie  Pay  had  given  a  testimony  to  the 
truth  of  the  Christian  faith,  which  was  nqt 
soon  to  be  forgotten  in  the  Jewish  home. 


VIII. 

f  ttrim  at  |iu0b 

f  ARCH  had  come,  with  its  blue  skies 
and  blustering  winds.  The  Jews 
counted  themselves  in  the  twelfth  month 
of  their  sacred  year,  and  now  the  feast  of 
Purim  was  to  be  kept.  This  is  a  feast  of 
two  days,  in  which  the  Jews  remember  the 
time  when  their  nation  was  saved  from 
destruction  by  the  courage  and  resolution 
of  Queen  Esther.  Ever  since  Haman  was 
hanged,  and  Mordecai  was  raised  to  honor, 
the  feast  of  Purim  has  been  kept  among 
the  Jews,  as  it  was  at  first, — a  time  "  of 
feasting  and  joy,  and  of  sending  portions 
one  to  another,  and  gifts  to  the  poor." 

You  will  find  the  account  of  the  origin 
of  these  days  in  the  book  of  Esther,  one 

(55) 


56  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

of  the  most  interesting  of  the  Old  Testa 
ment  stories. 

There  was  a  busy  time  at  Jacob  Myers7 
before  the  feast  of  Purim.  Each  member 
of  the  family  had  gifts  to  prepare  for  the 
others,  and  all  was  done  with  the  greatest 
secrecy. 

Muppim  and  Huppim  consulted  as  to 
what  should  be  prepared  for  Naomi.  They 
wanted  to  give  their  present  together,  to 
their  mother.  They  felt,  that  at  such  a 
time,  twins  should  not  be  separate,  but  it 
was  hard  for  them  to  agree.  Huppim's  taste 
was  quite  for  the  practical.  He  thought 
a  new  saucepan,  such  as  he  had  heard  her 
wishing  for,  would  be  a  most  acceptable 
gift. 

Muppim,  meanwhile,  was  in  favor  of  some 
pots  of  early  flowers,  from  a  neighboring 
greenhouse,  to  place  in  her  sunny  south 
window.  He  was  sure  they  would  please 
his  mother  best,  and  besides,  he  had  a  kind 


PURIM  AT  JACOB   MYERS*.  57 

of  a  notion  that  they  would  speak  his 
feelings  better  than  a  saucepan. 

Muppim  had  his  own  way  in  this,  as  he 
generally  did,  for  he  had  the  stronger  will 
of  the  two,  and  besides,  managed  to  give 
Huppim  a  wonderful  idea  of  his  superior 
judgment. 

Perhaps  you  wonder  where  the  twins 
got  their  money  for  their  purchases.  The 
young  Jews  had  not  lived  to  be  nearly 
thirteen  years  old,  without  making  many 
bargains  of  their  own,  and  earning  many 
a  penny.  True,  they  brought  all  their 
gains  to  their  mother,  but  she  kept  them 
apart  from  her  own,  and  duly  made  of  them 
a  private  purse  that  was  to  be  theirs  when 
they  were  older.  Now,  however,  they  had 
liberty  to  keep,  for  a  week  or  two,  what 
ever  they  might  make  in  their  various 
transactions. 

They  did  not  have  to  stay  many  morn 
ings  about  the  steamboat  landings  before 


58  THE   JEWISH   TWINS, 

they  had  an  opportunity  of  earning  a 
few  sixpences  with  which  to  begin,  and 
then,  such  trade  as  they  knew  how  to 
manage  in  oranges,  apples,  cigars,  pins  and 
matches  helped  them  out  with  their  fund 
for  Purim. 

The  feast  days  came  in  due  time,  and 
Jacob  was  in  the  city,  to  go  to  the  syna 
gogue  to  hear  the  story  of  Esther  read, 
and  to  cry,  "  let  his  name  be  blotted  out," 
whenever  Haman  was  mentioned.  That 
was  not,  however,  the  part  of  the  proceed 
ings  which  pleased  Jacob  best.  He  was 
happier  when  he  had  Ard  on  his  knee, 
crowing  and  rejoicing  in  his  own  way 
over  his  new  playthings,  and  beating  his 
gaily-painted  drum,  till  nothing  else  could 
be  heard  in  the  room. 

The  perfume  of  the  flowers  was  sweet 
to  Naomi,  and  in  the  midst  of  her  thanks 
Muppim  gave  a  look  of  triumph  at  his 
brother,  which  said  very  plainly,  "  You 


JURIM   AT   JACOB   MYEES*.  59 


see,  I  fr-kew  what  would  please  mother 
best."  7_-Iuppim  bowed  in  submission  ;  he 
was  to-,)  well  satisfied  with  his  new  knife 
and  tL  13  marbles  in  his  pockets,  to  be  out 
of  humor  about  anything.  We  cannot 
givo  fill  the  proceedings  of  those  days  of 
rejoicing,  we  cannot  tell  all  the  good 
things  that  Naomi  had  prepared,  or  with 
what  relish  they  were  eaten,  nor  of  the 
poor,  half-starved  Jews  who  that  day  had 
a  share  of  Naomi's  nice  cooking. 

Charlie  Fay,  too,  came  in  for  his  portion 
of  his  neighbors'  joy.  True,  he  was  not  a 
Jew,  and  had  no  right  to  partake  of  a 
Jewish  feast,  but  Muppim  and  Huppim 
could  not  have  had  their  hearts  glad,  with 
out  knowing  that  the  blind  boy  had  some 
new  cause  of  pleasure.  Even  Naomi  her 
self  would  not  have  felt  quite  satisfied, 
unless  Charlie  had  been  in  some  way  in 
cluded  in  their  merry-making. 

There  could  certainly  be  no  harm  in  re- 


60  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

membering  one  so  afflicted,  at  such  a  time, 
even  if  he  were  not  a  Jew. 

So  Charlie  had  a  box  of  fresh  mignon 
ette,  that  filled  his  room  with  perfume 
which  rose  with  his  prayers  that  his  neigh 
bors  might  some  day  know  the  true  joy 
that  is  only  found  in  Christ  Jesus. 

But  Muppim — had  he  no  share  in  the 
general  rejoicing  ?  He  was  not  much 
given  to  merry-making,  and  of  late  he 
had  been  particularly  thoughtful,  yet  there 
was  a  look  of  hearty  gratification  in  his 
face,  as  he  held  in  his  hand  the  book  that 
had  been  given  him. 

All  the  family  had  joined  their  funds 
to  purchase  Muppim's  present,  a  copy  of 
the  Hebrew  Scriptures  ;  though  his  father 
did  not  much  approve  of  the  proceeding. 
He  thought  it  was  well,  of  course,  to  be 
regular  at  the  Synagogue,  and  to  be  par 
ticular  as  to  Jewish  feasts  and  ceremonies, 
but  Muppim  had  a  way  of  studying  the 


PURIM   AT   JACOB   MYERS7.  61 

Scriptures  that  Jacob  deemed  in  his  heart 
but  little  better  than  a  waste  of  time. 
Naomi,  however,  was  too  good  a  wife  to 
be  opposed  in  a  plan  against  which  no 
plausible  objection  could  be  urged,  espe 
cially  as  Jacob  had  a  point  of  his  own  to 
carry  before  he  left  home  again. 

There  was  something  peculiar  in  Mup- 
pim's  study  of  the  Scriptures.  Pew  of  the 
Jews  of  our  day  care  as  much  even  for 
the  revered  Old  Testament  as  for  their 
own  sacred  writers  of  the  Talmud.  There 
are  a  dozen  who  know  the  fables  of  that 
composition  of  men,  for  one  who  is  well 
versed  in  the  Old  Testament  history,  the 
soul-searching  Psalms,  or  the  sublime 
prophesies  of  Isaiah.  Muppim  had  caught 
his  mother's  reverence  for  the  inspired 
word  of  God,  and  now  he  was  spurred 
on  to  its  study  by  a  new  motive. 

On  the  first  moment  of  retirement  that 
was  his,  after  the  reception  of  the  gift,  he 
6 


62  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

stood  alone  in  his  chamber,  and  solemnly 
said,  as  he  laid  his  hand  on  his  book, 
"  Bring  us  back,  0  our  Father,  to  the  ob 
servance  of  thy  law,  and  make  us  to  adhere 
to  thy  precepts ;  and  do  thon,  0  our 
King,  draw  us  near  to  thy  worship,  and 
convert  us  to  thee  by  perfect  repentance 
in  thy  presence.  Blessed  art  thou,  0 
Lord,  who  vouchsafest  to  receive  us  by  re 
pentance. 

"  Thou  of  thy  mercy  givest  knowledge 
unto  men,  and  teachest  them  understand 
ing  ;  give  graciously  unto  me  knowledge, 
wisdom,  and  understanding.  Blessed  art 
thou,  0  Lord,  who  graciously  givest 
knowledge  unto  men." 

These  prayers  Muppim  spoke  in  the 
Hebrew  language,  in  which  they  were  first 
written  and  have  been  used  for  hundreds 
of  years, — some  say,  since  before  the  time 
of  our  Saviour's  appearance  on  earth. 
The  eighteen  peculiarly  precious  prayers 


PURIM    AT   JACOB    MYERS7.  63 

of  the  Jews,  of  which  these  are  two,  Mup- 
pim  had  heard  at  the  Synagogue  worship, 
and  three  times  a  day  he  had  said  them 
in  private,  yet  he  had  never  prayed  in 
those  time-honored  words  before.  He 
had  never  so  longed  to  understand  God's 
truth. 


IX. 


-ITTLE  by  little  Jacob  Myers  was 
adding  to  his  gains  and  enlarging 
his  business.  He  felt  that  in  this  coun 
try  there  was  nothing  in  the  way  of  an 
industrious  man,  and  that  even  a  Jew 
might  rise  to  great  prosperity  and  influ 
ence.  Not  that  Jacob  was  particularly 
ambitious  for  himself,  —  his  present  way  of 
life  suited  him  very  well,  —  but  he  had  sons 
coming  forward,  and  it  was  of  them  and 
of  their  future  he  frequently  thought. 

His  mind  often  travelled  on  to  the  time 
when  the  sign  "  Muppim  and  Huppirn 
Myers"  should  grace  one  of  the  largest 
establishments  in  the  city,  and  the  wealthy 
owners  have  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the 

(64) 


THE   OLD   GENTLEMAN.  65 

rich  and  poor.  Jacob  well  knew  that  all 
this  could  not  be  brought  about  without 
much  care,  labor,  and  painstaking,  and  he 
felt  that  he  had  latterly  been  losing  time. 
His  boys  were  not  preparing  for  the  posi 
tion  he  coveted  for  them. 

Upon  one  thing  Jacob  was  resolved. 
Muppim  and  Huppim  must  learn  to  read 
English,  and  know  something  more  of 
arithmetic  than  they  had  already  learned 
in  the  shop. 

From  Naomi  he  expected  much  opposi 
tion  to  his  new  proposal,  and  he  therefore 
announced  it  to  her  as  a  matter  already  set 
tled,  merely  saying  that  he  should -spend 
the  Sundays,  when  he  was  necessarily  at 
home,  in  teaching  his  children  to  read 
English,  and  he  should  like  to  have  them 
prepare  themselves  during  the  week,  and 
make  as  rapid  progress  as  possible. 

Naomi  submitted,  like  a  true  wife,  in 
silence,  but  she  inwardly  trembled  at  the 
6* 


66  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

temptation  her  children  would  be  ex 
posed  to,  in  having  the  power  to  read  all 
the  bad  books  which  she  had  been  told 
were  printed  in  English.  She  rejoiced 
that  the  time  was  near  when  her  twins, 
according  to  the  Jewish  view,  would  be 
of  an  age  to  account  for  their  own  ac 
tions,  for  she  sadly  feared  they  would  go 
far  astray. 

Hard  would  it  be  for  parents,  if  all  the 
sins  of  children  under  thirteen  were  to  be 
visited  upon  them.  The  holy  Scriptures 
even  of  the  Old  Testament  give  us  anoth 
er  rule,  "  The  soul  that  sinneth  it  shall 
die." 

Muppim  received  with  joy  his  father's 
announcement.  He  was  eager  for  all 
knowledge,  and  was  just  now  particularly 
anxious  to  be  able  to  read  English  for  a 
private  reason  of  his  own. 

Huppim,  on  the  contrary,  expressed  his 
pity  for  his  father,  if  he  expected  to  teach 


THE    OLD    GENTLEMAN.  67 

him,  and  declared  his  belief  that  both 
would  give  up  in  despair  before  many 
weeks  were  over. 

The  brothers  were  busy  with  their 
spelling-books,  behind  the  counter,  one 
day,  when  an  unexpected  customer  came  in. 

The  boys  started  with  pleasure. 

"  So  you  do  know  me  I"  said  Mr. 
Thayer.  "  Why  haven't  you  been  to  look 
me  up  ?  Didn't  you  know  I'd  been  sick  ? 
I've  been  almost  a  dead  man,  and  neither 
of  you  so  much  as  came  to  see  if  I  was  alive ! 
Don't  you  feel  ashamed  of  yourselves  ?" 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  But  I  am  sorry  you 
have  been  sick,"  said  Huppim. 

"  I  did  not  know  where  you  lived.  I 
wondered  what  had  become  of  you,"  said 
Muppim. 

"  You  sha'n't  say  that  again.  Here's 
my  address.  John  Thayer, — there's  the 
street  and  number  and  all,"  said  the  old 
gentleman,  placing  his  card  on  the  coun- 


68  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

ter.  "  Take  it,  Muppim,  you  are  the 
steadiest.  My  friend  Huppirn,  there, 
wouldn't  mind  winding  a  fishing-line  on 
it,  if  he  were  in  a  hurry.  Now,  if  I  ever 
go  six  months  without  stopping  in  here 
again,  you  may  conclude  Fm  sick,  and 
come  to  look  after  me.  I  have  no  boys 
of  my  own,  but  if  I  am  a  bachelor  I  can 
have  my  fancies.  I  like  young  faces,  and 
should  have  been  mighty  glad  to  see  you 
when  I  was  shut  up  there  by  myself.  I 
found  plenty  to  think  about,  though,  and 
may-be  I'll  tell  you  about  that  some  other 
time." 

"  I'll  take  care  of  the  card,  and  not  for 
get  what  you  say,"  said  Muppim,  as  he 
put  the  card  away  in  his  own  little  pock 
et-book. 

"  What  are  you  doing  there  ?  That 
don't  look  like  Hebrew,"  said  Mr.  Thayer, 
glancing  at  the  spelling-book. 

"  We   are  learning   to  read  English," 


THE   OLD    GENTLEMAN.  69 

was  Muppim's  answer,  and  his  tone  proved 
that  he  did  not  think  it  a  disagreeable 
announcement. 

"  The  very  thing !  Just  what  I  was 
wishing  I"  said  Mr.  Thayer,  with  surprise. 
"  Well,  we  are  short-sighted  mortals,  actu 
ally  blind." 

"  Have  you  heard  about  Charlie  Fay  ?" 
asked  Muppim,  reminded  by  Mr.  Thayer's 
last  word,  of  his  afflicted  friend. 

"  What !  your  curly-headed  playfellow  ? 
No  harm  has  corne  to  him,  I  hope." 

"  It  was  all  my  fault,  after  your  telling  me 
cracking  off  the  caps  was  dangerous  fun," 
began  Muppim ;  and  then  he  went  on  to 
tell  the  story  of  Charlie's  accident,  and 
his  patience  under  his  sore  trial. 

"  I  must  go  and  see  him  this  very  min 
ute,"  said  Mr.  Thayer  ;  "  I  was  to  blame 
to  trust  you  boys  with  such  things,  just  for 
a  whim,  without  more  of  a  warning.  Show 
me  where  he  lives, — I'll  go  and  see  him  !* 


70  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Muppim  pointed  out  the  house,  and  was 
about  to  enter  with  Mr.  Thayer,  but  the  old 
gentleman  stopped  him,  saying,  u  No,  no, 
Muppim  1  go  back  to  your  books  ;  Fll  see 
Charlie  by  myself.  I  don't  care  to  have 
you  see  an  old  fellow  like  me  make  him 
self  foolish.  Why,  the  idea  of  that  fine 
little  chap's  losing  his  eyes  makes  a  baby 
of  me." 

Mr.  Thayer's  knock  was  answered  by 
Mrs.  Fay. 

"  I  want  to  see  Charlie  Fay  all  alone," 
said  Mr.  Thayer,  quickly. 

"  You  can  do  so,  sir,  if  you  will  walk 
up  stairs,"  said  Mrs.  Fay,  leading  the  way 
to  her  humble  apartments. 

"  Charlie,  there  is  a  gentleman  here 
who  wishes  to  see  you,"  said  the  mother, 
as  she  opened  the  door. 

Charlie  was  sitting  at  a  small  table, 
busily  tracing  with  his  fingers  the  em 
bossed  patterns  on  some  papers  from  the 


THE   OLD   GENTLEMAN.  71 

wrappings  to  linen.  As  his  eyes  were 
cast  down,  his  was  as  noble  a  young  head 
as  one  would  wish  to  see.  He  involun 
tarily  raised  his  lashes  at  the  entrance  of 
a  stranger,  but  it  was  to  realize  no  change 
in  his  darkness. 

"  Charlie,  my  boy,  do  you  remember 
Mr.  Thayer  ?"  said  the  old  gentleman. 

Charlie  could  not  forget  that  name  ;  it 
was  too  deeply  associated  with  his  misfor 
tune. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  remember  you,"  he  quietly 
answered.  "  You  used  to  stop  often  to 
buy  of  Mrs.  Myers,  and  talk  to  the  boys." 

"  Charlie,"  said  Mr.  Thayer,  very  ten 
derly,  "  Charlie,  I  would  rather  have  lost 
these  old  eyes,  than  have  been  the  means 
of  having  this  happen  to  you.  I  have  a 
great  deal  to  account  for  in  my  life.  I 
have  had  enough  to  think  about  on  my 
sick-bed,  but  I  did  not  know  I  had  this 
to  lie  at  my  door,  for  my  foolishness." 


72  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

"  Don't  blame  yourself,  sir.  My  misfor 
tune  was  sent  to  me  by  my  Heavenly  Fa 
ther,  and  I  believe  He  meant  it  for  my 
good/7  said  Charlie.  "  You  could  not 
know  what  Muppim  would  do  with  the 
caps.  I  believe  it  is  going  to  turn  out 
for  the  good  of  us  all.  Muppim  and 
Huppim  have  been  a  great  deal  to  see  me. 
They  are  very  kind.  Oh,  sir,  I  do  wish 
they  were  Christians!'7 

"  And  so  do  1 1"  said  Mr.  Thayer,  tak 
ing  Charlie's  hand,  quickly  ;  "  I  thought 
of  that  on  my  sick-bed.  My  boy,  I 
thought  of  a  great  deal  I  had  forgotten 
all  my  life.  You  ought  to  be  thankful 
that  you  have  found  your  Heavenly  Fa 
ther  in  your  youth.  Thanks  be  unto  Him, 
He  receives  the  old  when  they  repent,  but 
He  cannot  make  them  forget  the  past." 

"  Yet  He  forgives  all  the  past,  so  we 
need  not  think  about  it/7  said  Charlie. 

"  No  !     That  is  true.     And  I  mean  to 


THE   OLD    GENTLEMAN.  73 

keep  so  busy  that  I  shall  have  no  time  to 
dwell  on  what  I  ought  to  have  done  long 
ago.  About  Muppim  arid  Huppim  I  felt 
quite  desperate,  but  here,  as  soon  as  I 
get  about,  I  find  them  learning  English  ; 
then  what  is  to  prevent  their  studying  the 
Bible,  and  being  made  true  Christians  1" 

"  That  is  what  I  pray  for  every  day, 
and  I  think  it  will  be  so,"  said  Charlie, 
cheerfully.  "  Muppim  won't  talk  to  me 
any  more  even  about  the  Old  Testament, 
but  I  know  he  reads  it  every  day,  and 
that  is  the  best  thing,  just  now.  Mother 
says  he  could  not  do  better  than  read  the 
Old  Testament  faithfully,  and  then  he  will 
be  more  sure  to  see  that  our  Saviour  is  the 
real  Messiah." 

Mr.  Thayer  looked  at  Charlie's  young 
face,  so  full  of  interest  for  his  friends,  and 
felt  the  beauty  of  the  early  love  of  the 
truth,  before  the  world  and  its  cares  have 
left  but  half  a  heart  to  be  given  to  God. 
7 


74  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

"  We  will  not  give  up  our  little  Jews," 
said  Mr.  Thayer ;  "  but,  Charlie,  I  want 
to  do  something  for  you.  Is  there  no 
way  in  which  I  can  oblige  you  ?" 

"  I  am  used  to  living  plainly,  and  we 
have  every  comfort/7  said  Charlie,  "  and 
my  own  dear  mother — nobody  could  be 
sweeter  and  kinder  than  she  is.  Thank 
you,  Mr.  Thayer,  I  do  not  need  anything 
but  more  patience  and  cheerfulness,  and 
my  Best  Friend  will  give  them,  if  I  ask 
Him,  and  try  myself.77 

"  Charlie,  I  want  to  see  more  of  }'ou  ; 
may  I  come  again  and  sit  awhile  with  you 
to-morrow  ?77  said  Mr.  Thayer.  He  felt 
that  as  he  was  now  in  the  heavenly  path, 
he  might  learn  much  from  this  dear  child 
of  God. 

"  Do  come, — I  like  to  have  company,77 
said  Charlie;  "  and  I  am  so  glad  that  you 
are  interested  about  Muppim  and  Huppim, 
—interested,  I  mean,  as  I  am.77 


THE   OLD    GENTLEMAN.  75 

"  Charlie,"  said  Mr.  Thayer,  taking 
both  the  blind  boy's  hands  in  his  own, 
"  Charlie,  I  want  everybody  to  feel  as  I 
do.  God  has  forgiven  me,  wlien  I  so  lit 
tle  deserve  it,  and  I  want  every  one  to 
turn  to  Him,  and  find  how  full  of  love 
and  mercy  He  is." 

"  How  I  love  to  hear  you  say  so  !"  said 
Charlie.  "  Something  pleasant  seems  to 
be  happening  for  me  all  the  while,  now 
that  I  am  blind." 

As  Mr.  Thayer  walked  away  .from  that 
humble  home,  he  felt  more  than  ever  the 
power  and  beauty  of  the  Christian  relig 
ion.  Charlie  Fay  had  early  begun  to 
walk  in  wisdom's  ways  of  "  pleasantness," 
or  he  would  not  have  found  cause  for 
thankfulness  as  he  sat  in  his  darkness,  cut 
off  from  all  the  pleasures  of  boyhood. 


X. 


THAYER  had  been  an  active, 
successful  merchant.  Through  his 
long  life  he  had  done  heartily  whatever 
he  had  undertaken.  He  was  not  now 
going  to  make  a  listless,  do-nothing  Chris 
tian,  if  there  are  any  such  who  deserve 
the  name  of  Christians.  Mr.  Thayer 
meant  to  work,  and  work  heartily  in  his 
Master's  service. 

Before  he  slept,  after  his  interview  with 
Charlie  Fay,  he  had  hit  upon  a  plan  for 
his  daily  amusement  and  improvement. 

The  next  morning  Mr.  Thayer's  cane 
sounded  on  the  wide  stone  walk  that  led 
up  to  the  door  of  the  Blind  Asylum,  in 
his  native  city.  Before  many  hours  were 

(76) 


THE   REWARD-CARD.  77 

over,  he  had  gone  through  the  Institu 
tion,  and  engaged  a  place  for  a  new  pupil. 
Who  that  pupil  was  to  be,  will  readily 
be  guessed. 

Charlie's  face  lighted  up  with  a  perfect 
glow  of  pleasure  when  the  plan  was  pro 
posed  to  him,  but  the  glow  faded  away,  as 
he  said,  "  I  know  where  the  Asylum  is — I 
have  often  passed  it.  It  is  too  far  for 
mother  to  walk  every  day,  and  I  cannot 
go  alone." 

Mr.  Thayer  looked  puzzled  for  a  mo 
ment,  and  then  he  answered,  "  We  will  see 
what  Muppira  and  Huppim  will  say  about 
that." 

Muppim,  Huppim,  and  Naomi  were  all 
of  one  mind  upon  the  subject  The  twins 
could  well  be  spared  to  go  with  Charlie 
to  school,  and  call  for  him  at  noon  when 
the  study  hours  were  over.  His  work  he 
could  do  at  home.  Yes — "  work."  He 
was  to  be  taught  how  to  make  baskets 
7* 


78  THE   JEWISH    TWINS. 

and  mats,  to  knit  and  to  crochet,  as  well 
as  to  read  with  his  fingers7  ends. 

A  new  life  now  opened  before  Charlie 
Fay.  Every  morning  he  had  a  walk  in  the 
fresh  air  with  his  two  friends,  and  daily 
they  learned  more  of  his  patient,  cheerful 
spirit. 

Muppim  thought  how  discontent  would 
have  crept  over  him,  if  he  had  been  tried 
with  the  loss  of  his  precious  sight ;  and 
Huppim  felt  sure  he,  in  like  circumstances, 
would  have  given  up  in  despair. 

The  twins  had  never  thought  of  being 
grateful  for  the  common  blessings  of  life, — 
health  and  strength,  food  and  clothing, — 
but  Charlie  seemed  welling  over  with  grat 
itude  for  the  many  comforts  and  sources 
of  pleasure  still  left  to  him. 

Muppim  had  ceased  to  talk  with  Char 
lie  of  religion,  but  he  could  not  fail  to 
notice  the  sweet  joyousness  of  this  dear 
follower  of  Jesus,  and  in  the  young  Jew 


THE   REWARD-CARD.  79 

there  was  an  increasing  questioning  inter 
est  as  to  the  possible  truth  of  the  Chris 
tian's  faith.  This  had  spurred  him  on  to 
a  faithful  study  of  the  Old  Testament ; 
for  this  he  now  longed  to  read  the  New. 
Yet  he  thought,  and  studied,  and  prayed 
in  silence.  Not  even  his  twin  brother,  or 
his  tender,  loving  mother  guessed  the 
thoughts  that  were  agitating  his  mind. 
But  there  was  one  more  loving  than  a 
mother,  more  faithful  than  a  brother,  who 
was  watching  with  tender  interest  the 
workings  of  Muppim's  heart,  and  yearn 
ing  for  this  child  of  Israel  to  turn  unto  Him. 
Charlie  had  been  a  week  at  the  Blind 
Asylum,  when  he  received  a  card  of  re 
ward  for  good  behavior.  A  perfect 
treasure  this  card  was  for  him,  for  it  was 
printed  with  the  letters  raised,  so  that  he 
could  feel  them  as  he  slowly  passed  his 
fingers  over  them,  and  so  practise  his  new 
wav  of  learning  to  read. 


80  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Charlie,  of  course,  had  made  but  little 
progress  as  yet,  in  this  method  of  reading. 
Like  most  boys,  he  had  put  his  hands 
through  a  hardening  process  in  his  plays, 
not  to  speak  of  the  work  he  had  done  in 
his  anxiety  to  assist  his  mother.  But  for 
the  time  he  had  spent  in  his  darkened 
room,  his  fingers  would  have  been  stiff 
and  clumsy  enough,  and  even  now  they 
would  need  much  and  thorough  training 
before  they  would  serve  him  instead  of 
eyes. 

To  the  twins  Charlie's  card  was  a  real 
curiosity.     They  had  never  heard  of  the 
way   of  teaching  the   blind  to  read,  by 
using  raised  letters,  and  they  were  full  of  ' 
wonder  and  interest  about  it. 

"  Let  me  try,"  said  Huppim,  stopping 
in  the  street  to  pass  his  horny  fingers' 
ends  along  the  page. 

"I  should  never  learn  to  read  that 
way,77  he  said  with  a  laugh.  "  I  can  only 


THE   REWARD-CARD.  81 

feel  a  little  roughness,  and  no  shape  of 
the  letters  at  all." 

Muppim,  of  course,  tried  the  experi 
ment  too,  and  with  no  better  success. 

"  Perhaps  you  could  not  read  it,  even 
by  looking  at  it,"  said  Charlie.  "  I  don't 
know  what  it  says  myself.  The  teacher 
wouldn't  tell  me  ;  he  wanted  me  to  find 
out.  You  boys  can  read  it,  and  then  you 
can  see  how  I  make  out" 

Muppim  forthwith  went  through  a 
great  deal  of  spelling,  as  he  walked  slow 
ly  along,  but  as  he  had  only  been  at  his 
English  studies  three  weeks,  he  made 
a  poor  hand  at  deciphering  it. 

"  I'll  get  mother  to  read  it  to  you,"  said 
Charlie,  "  and  then  you  can  try  me  every 
day,  and  see  how  I  get  on." 

Mrs.  Fay  was  glad  to  hear  the  boys 
talking  so  cheerfully  as  they  came  up  the 
stairs.  She  readily  promised  to  give  the 
secret  of  the  card  to  the  young  Jews, 


82  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

while  Charlie  stopped  on  the  landing, 
and  put  his  fingers  into  his  ears  lest 
he  should  hear  more  than  was  fair,  under 
the  circumstances:  The  words  on  the 
card  were  very  familiar  to  Mrs.  Pay — she 
needed  but  a  glance  to  be  able  to  speak 
them  all ;  yet  Muppim  and  Huppim  listen 
ed  again  and  again,  as  she  went  over  with 
them,  that  they  might  catch  at  least  a 
single  sentence  and  keep  it  in  memory. 

"  Our  Father  who  art  in  Heaven,"  she 
began,  and  so  through  the  Lord's  prayer 
she  went,  while  the  Jews  followed,  little 
thinking  that  they  were  speaking  the 
words  of  Jesus.  Yet,  there  was  a  charm 
to  Muppim  in  that  prayer.  Huppim  had 
remembered  but  the  mere  beginning  of  it. 
That,  he  said,  would  be  enough  for  the 
present ;  he  could  learn  more  when  Char 
lie  was  able  to  make  out  the  first  sentence. 
When  Muppirn's  hour  of  evening  prayer 
came,  "  Our  Father  who  art  in  Heaven7' 


THE   REWARD-CARD.  83 

was  suggested  to  his  mind,  and  lie  went 
on  till  he  came  to  "  forgive  us  our  tres 
passes  as  we  forgive  those  who  trespass 
against  us."  The  idea  and  the  words 
were  puzzling  to  him  ;  here  he  stopped. 

Muppim  could  not  be  content  to  half 
learn  anything.  He  was  not  satisfied  un 
til  Mrs.  Fay  had  read  to  him  what  was 
on  the  card,  again  and  again,  and  he  was 
able  to  repeat  the  very  words.  Charlie, 
meanwhile,  spent  many  a  minute  passing 
his  fingers  over  the  letters, — as  yet,  in 
vain.  The  time  was  not  lost ;  Mup 
pim  was  taking  home  the  words  to  his 
heart.  "We  cannot  say  that  he  prayed  in 
them,  but  when  he  stood  at  his  prayers, 
they  came  into  his  mind,  and  he  began,  as 
a  habit,  to  try  himself  upon  them  when 
he  had  finished  his  own  petitions. 

Jesus,  who  "  saw  Jerusalem  and  wept 
over  it,"  does  not  forget  his  own  nation 
now  ;  gladly  does  he  welcome  each  sign 


84:  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

that  a  Jew  is  turning  his  face  towards  the 
true  Canaan,  and  is  preparing  to  acknowl 
edge  Zion's  King. 

When  we  pray  for  the  Jews,  when  we 
labor  to  lead  them  to  Christ,  we  are 
sharing  His  spirit  who  would  have  saved 
them  from  destruction,  "but  they  would 
not,'7  and  who,  even  now,  "  waiteth  to  be 
gracious"  to  His  "  own  brethren  according 
to  the  flesh,"  as  well  as  to  the  multitude 
of  the  Gentiles. 


XL 


PAY  was  surprised  one 
^J'  morning  by  an  early  visit  from  Hup- 
pim.  "  I  have  brought  you  a  present, 
Charlie,"  said  the  young  Jew  :  "  here  is 
one  of  mother's  good  loaf-cakes  ;  she  sent 
it  to  you  with  her  love.'*7 

"  Thank  you,  twenty  times,"  said  Char 
lie,  feeling  the  weight  of  the  cake  with 
his  hands  ;  "but  had  not  we  boys  better 
halve  it  ?  A  part  of  it  would  last  mother 
and  me  ever  so  long." 

11  Not  a  morsel  of  it  can  we  have  on  our 
premises  :  why,  it  is  raised  cake,  and  to 
night  father  is  to  search  the  house  to  see 
that  there  is  not  a  bit  of  leaven  in  it. 
Mother  don't  want  him  to  find  so  much  as 
8  (85) 


86  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

a  crumb  of  leavened  bread  to  cast  out," 
said  Huppim. 

"  What,  has  the  Passover  come  so  soon  ? 
It  don't  seem  to  me  as  if  it  was  a  month 
since  Purim,"  said  Charlie,  who  had  be 
come  familiar  with  the  seasons  for  cele 
brating  the  Jewish  feasts. 

"  But  it  is,  though/7  said  Huppim  ;  "  to 
morrow  is  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  first 
month,  and  of  course  we  are  to  keep  the 
Passover.  Oh !  I  forgot ;  here's  the 
spring-beer  mother  sent  you  and  Mrs.  Pay, 
— the  last  bottle  of  that,  too  ;  she  says  it 
is  strengthening,  and  you  know  we  don't 
have  anything  of  that  kind  in  our  house 
at  Passover  time." 

Charlie  thought  of  the  Saviour's  com 
mand  to  put  away  all  the  leaven  of  evil 
out  of  the  heart,  and  wondered  when  his 
dear  Jewish  friends  would  understand  the 
spiritual  meaning  of  the  ceremonies  they 
observed  so  carefully.  He  contented  him- 


THE   PASSOVER.  87 

self  with  a  prayer  for  them,  without  any 
attempt  to  teach  them,  at  that  time,  the 
true  way.  He  knew  that  at  present  any 
direct  efforts  on  his  part  would  prevent 
his  young  friends  from  visiting  him  any 
more,  and  so  deprive  him  of  all  possi 
bility  of  influencing  them  :  he  must  watch, 
and  pray,  and  wait,  and  in  the  Lord's 
good  time,  he  doubted  not,  they  would  be 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  Jesus. 

Charlie  Fay  meant  to  keep  the  Pass 
over  with  his  friends,  in  his  own  way  ; 
he  got  his  mother  to  read  over  to  him  the 
eleventh,  twelfth,  and  thirteenth  chapters 
of  Exodus,  where  the  account  is  given  of 
the  origin  of  this  great  feast  of  the  Jews. 

The  Passover  is  kept  in  memory  of  the 
time  when  the  angel  of  the  Lord  passed 
over  the  houses  of  the  Israelites  when  he 
slew  the  first-born  in  every  house  of  the 
Egyptians.  At  that  time  the  Lord  com 
manded  His  people  to  keep  the  Passover 


88  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

forever,  and  told  them  that  this  time  should 
be  to  them  the  beginning  of  months,  the 
first  month  in  the  year.  Even  now,  the 
month  of  the  Passover  is  to  the  Jews  the 
beginning  of  their  religious  year,  though 
it  is  in  our  spring. 

This  year  the  Passover  came  in  April. 
It  was  Nisan  or  Abib  with  the  Jews,  but 
April  to  all  Christians.  When  Charlie 
heard  the  account  of  the  sacrifice  of  the 
lamb  in  the  Passover,  he  wondered  whether 
his  friends  would  offer  up  a  lamb,  and  was 
surprised  to  think  he  had  never  looked  to 
see  if  there  was  blood  on  their  door-posts 
at  the  Passover  time.  Through  all  the 
day  Charlie  was  dwelling  upon  the  Pass 
over  time  as  it  is  described  in  Scripture. 
His  mother  read  to  him  how  Jesus  kept 
the  feast  with  His  disciples,  and  then  how 
He  HirnseU'  suffered  on  the  cross,  to  be  the 
true  Lamb  slain  for  our  sins,  that  we  might 
have  free  forgiveness. 


THE   PASSOVER.  89 

Meanwhile,  preparations  were  going  on 
at  Jacob  Myers'  for  the  proper  ceremonies 
of  the  evening  ;  not  a  member  of  the 
family  had  eaten  a  mouthful,  excepting 
little  Ard,  who  had  been  as  industrious 
in  that  way  as  usual. 

The  rest  of  the  household  had  joined  in 
the  prayers  of  the  synagogue,  Jacob  and 
Huppim  with  their  lips  alone,  but  Naomi 
and  Muppim  with  their  hearts  as  well  as 
their  mouths.  When  evening  was  come, 
three  plates  were  set  upon  the  table; — one 
plate  contained  three  Passover  cakes,  look 
ing  very  much  like  large,  hard  sea-biscuit. 
These  cakes  had  been  made  up  quickly, 
without  yeast  or  leaven  of  any  kind  ;  the 
three  cakes  were  carefully  laid  one  above 
another,  in  a  napkin. 

The  second  plate  had  in  it  horse-radish 
and  bitter  herbs.  The  third  plate  con 
tained  a  small  bone  of  lamb  and  a  roasted 

egg- 

8* 


90  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Besides  the  three  plates,  there  were  two 
dishes,  one  of  which  was  filled  with  vine 
gar  and  salt,  and  the  other  with  a  mixture 
somewhat  like  lime.  There  was  a  wine 
glass  for  each  member  of  the  family. 

Several  Hebrew  blessings  were  repeat 
ed,  then  the  first  cup  of  wine  was  drunk. 

Jacob  then  dipped  some  of  the  bitter 
herbs  in  the  vinegar,  and  gave  a  small 
portion  to  his  wife  and  to  each  of  the 
boys.  After  that,  he  broke  the  middle  one 
of  the  three  cakes,  and  hid  away  half  of 
it  until  after  supper. 

Then  all  the  family  put  their  hands 
upon  the  dishes  containing  the  Passover 
cakes  and  the  bitter  herbs  and  said,  "  Lo, 
this  is  the  bread  of  affliction,  which  our 
fathers  ate  in  the  land  of  Egypt ;  let  all 
those  who  are  hungry  come  and  eat  there 
of,  and  all  who  are  needy  come  and  cele 
brate  our  Passover.  At  this  time  we  are 
here  ;  next  year  we  hope  to  be  in  the  land 


THE   PASSOVER.  91 

of  Israel :  now  we  are  servants ;  next 
year  we  hope  to  be  free  children.77 

Muppim  and  Huppim  then  asked, 
"  Wherefore  is  this  night  distinguished 
from  all  other  nights  ?" 

To  which  their  parents  replied,  "  Be 
cause  we  were  slaves  unto  Pharaoh  in 
Egypt,  and  the  Lord  our  God  brought  us 
out  from  thence,  with  a  mighty  hand  and 
a  stretched  out  arm." 

Jacob  then  read  the  account  of  the 
wonders  God  wrought  for  His  people  of 
Israel,  and  the  mother  and  children  made 
answer  from  time  to  time  on  the  same 
subject. 

To  each  a  piece  of  the  unleavened  bread 
was  then  given,  and  some  of  the  bitter 
herbs,  dipped  in  the  mixture  like  lime, 
was  eaten  by  all. 

Then  followed  the  setting  of  various 
good  things  on  the  table.  Ard  was  help 
ed  up  to  his  high-chair,  and  made  up,  by 


92  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

his  merry  ways,  for  his  quiet  behavior 
during  the  service  just  performed. 

There  was  but  a  small  family  at  the 
feast,  but  it  seemed  a  happy  one,  and  as 
Naomi  looked  about  her,  she  wondered  if 
there  were  in  all  the  country  three  as  prom 
ising  boys  as  her  own. 

The  family  feast  being  over,  Jacob 
poured  out  two  cups  of  wine  ;  one  of  them 
Jacob  took,  arid  then  said  solemnly,  "  0 
Most  Merciful !  make  us  to  inherit  the  day 
when  all  shall  be  Sabbath,  and  we  shall 
rest  in  life  forever.  0  Most  Merciful ! 
make  us  worthy  to  see  the  days  of  the 
Messiah,  and  life  in  the  world  to  come." 

Other  words  of  like  kind  followed,  and 
then  Jacob  gave  the  cup  to  each  of  the 
family,  and  to  each  a  piece  of  the  hidden 
unleavened  bread,  which  he  had  before 
taken  from  the  table.* 

The  second  cup  of  wine,  called  by  the 

*  Read  carefully  St.  Luke  xxii,  19,  20. 


THE   PASSOVER.  93 

Jews  Elijah's  cup,  "  the  cup  after  supper," 
he  then  placed  before  him  ;  the  boys 
opened  the  door,  and  there  was  a  time  of 
silence  and  solemn  expectation.  All  look 
ed  eagerly  out,  hoping  to  see  Elijah  enter 
ing  to  announce  that  the  true  Messiah 
was  coming.  No  old  prophet  rose  from 
the  dead  to  tell  them  that  the  Messiah,  the 
Saviour  of  the  world,  had  already  come 
and  had  been  crucified  ;  but  as  the  Jewish 
family  sat  there  in  solemn  silence,  a  sound 
of  music  floated  in  through  the  open  door; 
— Charlie  Fay's  sweet  voice  was  heard 
in  the  hymn — 

"  Come,  let  us  sing  of  Jesus, 

While  hearts  and  accents  blend ; 
Come,  let  us  sing  of  Jesus, 
The  sinner's  only  Friend." 

To  Muppim,  this  seemed  like  a  message 
from  heaven.  Was  not  this  Jesus,  whom 
Charlie  Pay  so  loved,  the  Messiah  ?  The- 


91  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

question  sank  deep  into  the  heart  of  the 
young  Jew. 

Charlie  Pay  was  but  singing  his  even 
ing  hymn,  after  his  happy  day  of  drawing 
near  to  his  Lord.  He  had  felt  more  than 
ever  the  blessedness  of  knowing  Him  who 
is  the  only  sacrifice  for  sin,  and  the  true 
Lamb  of  the  Passover. 

When  this  hymn  was  over,  Charlie 
knelt  down  for  his  evening  prayers  ; — not 
for  himself  alone  he  prayed,  but  for  his 
dear  friends,  and  particularly  for  all  the 
Jews,  who  were  then  keeping  the  Passover 
in  darkness  and  unbelief. 

Meanwhile,  Jacob  Myers'  family  were 
closing  their  solemn  feast  by  singing  an 
ancient  hymn,  beginning,  "  Lord,  build 
Thy  temple  speedily." 

Even  as  these  words  were  in  his  ears, 
Muppim,  in  his  heart,  was  repeating, 
"  Come,  let  us  sing  of  Jesus,"  and  longing 


THE   PASSOVER.  95 

to  know  more  of  that  Jesus,  of  whom 
Charlie  Fay  was  a  follower. 

Charlie  Fay  had  not  argued  with  his 
Jewish  friends,  but  he  had  been  doing 
more  for  his  religion  ;  Charlie  had  been 
showing  forth  cheerfulness  in  affliction, 
and  an  unselfish,  lovely  spirit,  which  they 
could  not  but  admire.  The  thoughtful 
Muppim  was  beginning  to  question  what 
could  be  the  power  that  so  sustained 
Charlie  in  his  time  of  trial,  and  made  him 
so  gentle  and  kindly  in  daily  life. 

Ah !  faithful  living  is  a  safe  kind  of 
teaching.  Children  may  go  astray  when 
they  strive  to  give  advice ;  but  a  single 
mild,  forgiving,  truthful,  obedient  Chris 
tian  child  is  doing  much  for  the  religion 
of  Jesus.  She  is  a  true  missionary  to  all 
her  companions,  and  many  will  wish  to 
follow  her  Lord. 

If  all  Christians  were  such  as  they 
should  be,  then  would  the  Jews  be  forced 


96  THE   JEWISH   TWIXS. 

to  say,  The  Messiah  must  have  come  ;  for 
behold,  here  is  a  people  who  walk  in  God's 
laws  and  keep  His  commandments  better 
than  we  ;  they  must  have  been  taught  by 
the  Son  of  David  ;  their  Lord  must  be  the 
King  of  the  Jews  1 


XII. 


'UPPIM  and  Huppim  were  now 
thirteen  years  of  age,  and  with  the 
usual  ceremonies,  they  had  taken  their 
position  as  full  worshippers  at  the  syna 
gogue,  and  according  to  Jewish  -  belief 
were  persons  accountable  for  their  own 
lives. 

Huppim  felt  very  proud  on  the  occa 
sion  ;  he  seemed  to  think  himself  now  a 
man,  and  of  course  much  wiser  than  any 
woman.  It  was  quite  amusing  to  see  the 
important  air  of  the  young  Jew,  puffed  up 
with  his  new  dignity.  If  Huppim  had 
had  a  better  knowledge  of  his  own  heart, 
he  would  have  seen  more  cause  for  humil 
ity  than  for  prido  in  his  present  position. 
9  (97) 


98  THE  JEWISH   TWINS. 

To  be  accountable  for  one's  own  sins  Is 
certainly  an  awful,  solemn  thought ;  yet 
this  is  true  of  every  one  of  us ! 

Muppim,  meanwhile,  had  a  secret  cause 
of  anxiety  that  made  him  more  thoughtful 
than  ever.  One  question  had  taken  deep 
hold  of  his  mind,  "  What  if  the  religion 
of  the  Christian  should  be  true,  and 
Messiah  be  already  come  ?". 

How  he  longed  to  talk  with  Charlie 
about .  the  subject  that  was  ever  in  his 
mind !  Yet  the  days  went  by,  and  Mup 
pim  pored  over  his  Hebrew  Bible  in 
silence,  and  kept  his  sorrow  in  his  own 
heart. 

"  I  want  Huppim  to  take  care  of  Ard. 
and  to  be  in  the  shop  this  morning,"  said 
Naomi,  one  day.  "  I  have  work  to  do  ;  so, 
Muppim,  you  must  go  alone  with  Charlie 
Fay  to  school.'7 

Huppim  did  not  care  to  lose  his  walkt 
but  Naomi  knew  which  of  the  boys  to 


BEGINNINGS.  99 

choose  on  such  an  occasion  ;  for  Hnppim 
was  far  more  ready  to  give  up  his  own 
will  and  pleasure  for  others,  than  was  his 
brother. 

Huppim  made  no  great  effort  about  such 
matters,  it  is  true,  but  he  had  a  careless, 
joyous  spirit,  that  made  him  quite  indiffer 
ent  as  to  where  or  how  he  spent  his  time. 
He  could  be  as  happy  frolicking  with  Ard, 
as  taking  the  fresh  air  with  Charlie  Fay. 
As  Muppim  started  off  with  Charlie,  the 
thought  passed  through  his  mind  that  now 
he  had  an  opportunity  to  talk  over  the 
subject  upon  which  he  had  of  late  so  fre 
quently  dwelt ;  but  how  to  begin,  he  did 
not  know. 

Charlie  was  in  excellent  spirits.  Hav 
ing  become  in  a  measure  accustomed  to 
his  blindness,  his  natural  joyousness  had 
returned  to  him,  and  he  almost  skipped 
along,  holding  fast  to  Muppim's  hand  as 
he  went,  and  talking  as  cheerfully  as  in 


100  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

the  good  old  days  when  they  were  little 
children  together. 

"  I  say,  Muppim,  did  you  know  I  had 
found  out  what  was  on  the  card  ?"  said 
Charlie,  giving  his  companion's  arm  a 
suggestive  pull.  Muppim  had  been  rather 
absent-minded,  and  had  left  Charlie  to  do 
the  most  of  the  talking. 

"  Have  you  ?"  said  Muppim,  with  sud 
den  interest. 

"  Yes,  I  knew  the  0  first,  and  then  the 
P.,  and  after  thinking  a  while,  I  guessed 
it!  i  Our  Father7  came  right  into  my 
mind,  and  then  of  course  it  was  easy  to 
tell  all  the  rest,"  said  Charlie. 

"  Do  you  know  all  the  prayer  ?"  asked 
Muppim. 

"  Of  course  I  do  I"  said  Charlie,  with 
surprise.  "  I  used  to  say  it  when  I  couldn't 
speak  plain.  I  didn't  know  what  it  meant 
then,  but  I  love  it  dearly  now." 

"  I  like  it,  too,"  said  Muppim,  quietly. 


BEGINNINGS.  101 

A  thrill  of  joy  passed  through  Charlie's 
heart.  "  And  you  say  it,  too,  sometimes — 
you  really  pray  it  ?"  questioned  the  blind 
boy.  How  he  wished  he  could  see  Mup- 
pim's  face  at  that  moment ! 

"  I  do,'7  was  Muppim's  only  answer. 

"  It  is  the  prayer  our  dear  Lord  Jesus 
gave  to  His  disciples  f  said  Charlie,  boldly ; 
and  as  he  spoke  he  inwardly  sent  up  a 
petition  that  the  Giver  of  the  prayer  would 
bless  the  words  to  his  young  companion. 

If  Charlie  had  seen  Muppim's  face  then, 
he  would  have  been  astonished  at  the 
strong  feeling  it  displayed. 

Now  Muppim  knew,  for  the  first  time, 
that  the  prayer  which  had  become  a  part 
of  his  daily  devotions,  had  first  come  from 
the  lips  of  that  Jesus  of  whom  he  had 
lately  thought  so  much. 

Muppim  had  been  taught  that  the  King 
of  the  Jews  was  yet  to  come,  and  that 
Jesus  had  only  pretended  to  that  h'onor. 
9* 


102  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Now  he  felt  afraid  he  had  been  doing 
wrong  in  even  speaking  words  that  Jesus 
had  given  to  His  disciples. 

Muppim  continued  silent  until  they 
reached  the  Blind  Asylum,  and  Charlie 
did  not  interrupt  his  meditations.  Charlie 
realized  that  they  had  an  unseen  com 
panion  on  their  walk,  with  whom  he  could 
hold  communion  without  spoken  words  ; 
and  to  that  companion  he  prayed  most 
earnestly  for  Muppim,  even  as  they  trod 
together  the  busy  streets  of  the  city. 

When  Muppim  found  himself  alone,  he 
gave  himself  up  entirely  to  his  own  re 
flections. 

He  recalled  the  conversation  he  had 
had  with  Naomi  on  the  day  when  he  was 
thirteen.  The  mother  had  spoken  most 
solemnly  to  her  sons  on  the  obligations 
now  to  rest  upon  them.  She  had  told 
them  that  they  were  called  to  serve  a  holy 
and  just  God,  to  whom  they  must  one  day 


BEGINNINGS.  103 

give  an  account,  and  had  urged  upon  them 
to  keep  the  whole  law,  and  to  walk  in  the 
way  of  God's  commandments. 

The  thought  came  home  to  Muppim's 
rnind  with  power,  that  he  was  living  in  a 
Christian  country,  and  had  an  opportunity 
to  know  all  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  ; — what 
excuse  then  could  he  give,  if  that  religion 
were  true,  and  he  had  not  examined  it  ? 
Muppim  was  deep  in  these  meditations, 
when  he  ran  against  a  stout  gentleman, 
who  seemed  purposely  to  put  himself  in 
the  boy's  way. 

"  So  !  so  !  Muppim,  what's  the  matter  ?" 
said  the  friendly  voice  of  Mr.  Thayer. 
"  It  won't  do  to  be  in  such  a  brown  study 
in  the  public  streets.  Every  body  might 
not  take  being  run  over  as  patiently  as  I 
do  ;  though  to  be  sure,  I  did  try  to  see 
whether  you  would  turn  out  for  me.  Mup 
pim,  I  was  just  going  to  see  you." 

"  To  see  me  !"said  Muppim,with  surprise. 


104  THE  JEWISH   TWINS. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Thayer,  hesitating 
slightly.  "  Now  you  are  learning  to  read 
English,  I  have  a  book  for  you,  the  best 
book  printed  in  the  English  language,  or 
any  other.  I  have  had  it  for  you  some 
time,  but  I  wanted  to  look  it  over  first 
myself,  for  a  reason  I  had.  I  have  marked 
some  passages  that  I  think  will  interest 
you  particularly." 

"  Thank  you  !  thank  you !  You  are 
very  kind/'  said  Muppim,  taking  the  parcel 
in  his  hands.  It  was  tied  up  with  a  string, 
and  lie  did  not  open  it  as  long  as  Mr. 
Thayer  walked  at  his  side. 

The  old  gentleman  soon  parted  with  his 
young  friend,  and  then  Muppim's  busy 
lingers  untied  the  knot. 

He  started,  as  he  read  the  title-page, 
"  Holy  Bible."  Could  Mr.  Thayer  have 
guessed  the  thoughts  that  had  lately  agi 
tated  his  mind  ?  Should  he  read  the 
book  ?  "I  will  at  least  compare  these 


BEGINNINGS.  105 

Scriptures  with  ours/'  said  Muppim  to 
himself;  and  with  this  resolution  fully 
formed,  Muppim  glanced  at  a  Psalm  or 
two,  and  then  returned  the  book  to  its 
wrapper. 

u  What  have  you  got  there  ?"  said  Hup- 
pirn,  his  observing  eyes  noting  the  parcel 
as  soon  as  Muppim  entered  the  shop. 

Muppim  did  not  condescend  to  reply, 
but  walked  straight  on  to  the  upper  room. 
Huppim  gave  a  low  whistle,  which  Ard 
forthwith  proceeded  to  imitate,  and  Hup- 
pirn's  vexation  went  off  in  a  laugh  at 
Ard's  unsuccessful  experiment. 

Muppim  was  by  no  means  the  courteous, 
kindly  person  he  should  have  been  at 
home.  Ard  knew  when  Muppim  was  in 
a  mood  to  be  let  alone,  and  even  Naomi 
felt  at  times  afraid  to  intrude  upon  Mup- 
pim's  silence. 

Huppim  often  wished  in  his  heart  that 
his  brother  was  more  like  Charlie  Fay, 


106  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

and  wondered  what  made  such  a  differ 
ence  between  them.  That  evening  Mup- 
pim  seemed  in  a  particularly  bad  humor. 
He  had  not  had  a  moment  he  could  call 
his  own  all  day,  and  the  book  he  so 
longed  to  examine  was  still  hidden  in  his 
drawer,  and  tied  up  in  its  wrapper.  There 
had  been  errands  to  do  in  distant  parts 
of  the  city,  and  customers  to  be  waited 
on  in  the  shop,  until  Muppim's  small  store 
of  patience  was  quite  exhausted. 

Ard  was  perched  up  at  the  little  table 
in  the  family  room,  and  was  striking  two 
old  chair  slats  together  to  his  great  delight. 

"Don't,  Ard.  You  make  my  head 
ache !"  exclaimed  Muppim,  sharply. 

"  Bye-bye  !"  said  Ard,  folding  the  two 
sticks  to  his  bosom,  and  seeming  to  hush 
a  baby  to  sleep. 

Huppirn  laughed,  and  Muppim  said,  an 
grily,  "  Mother,  I  wish  you  would  keep 
the  boys  still.  They  make  my  head  ache  !" 


BEGINNINGS.  107 

"  One  boy  is  such  a  little  fellow,  I  think 
you  will  have  to  excuse  him,"  said  Naomi, 
gently.  u  You  had  better  go  to  bed,  my 
son,  if  your  head  feels  so  badly." 

"  I  am  thirteen  ! — too  old  to  be  sent  to 
bed  like  a  baby !"  said  Muppim,  quickly. 

"  Not  too  old  to  honor  your  mother," 
said  Naomi,  reproachfully. 

Muppim  lighted  a  candle  and  walked 
up  to  his  own  room.  He  knew  that  no 
one  would  follow  him  when  he  was  in 
such  a  mood,  and  that  he  was  sure  of  a 
few  moments  of  solitude.  He  opened  Mr. 
Thayer's  present.  His  eyes  fell  on  the 
few  words, "  Love  as  brethren  ;  be  pitiful, 
be  courteous.'1 

He  turned  eagerly  to  see  if  they  were 
in  the  Old  Testament,  and  tried  to  per 
suade  himself  that  they  did  not  rebuke 
him,  since  they  were  in  the  New. 

Muppim  really  loved  his  mother  and  his 
brothers  ;  he  did  not  understand  why  he 


108  THE  JEWISH   TWINS. 

had  spoken  to  them  so  roughly.  His 
head  really  did  ache.  It  was  in  vain  for 
him  to  try  to  read,  the  letters  swam  before 
his  eyes. 

He  felt  dizzy  and  sick,  and  would  have 
gladly  called  some  one  to  help  him  un 
dress,  but  he  was  too  proud  to  ask  a  favor 
now  of  the  dear  friends  from  whom  he 
had  so  rudely  parted.  Miserable  in  body 
and  mind,  poor  Muppim  lay  down  on  his 
bed,  but  not  to  sleep. 


XIII. 


came  with  its  warm  sun- 
light,  and  the  great  city  was  awake, 
and  all  was  stir  and  activity.  In  Muppim's 
room  there  was  darkness  and  stillness.  A 
heavy  shawl  was  hung  before  the  small 
window  to  shut  out  the  light  that  seemed 
to  him  to  glare  so  painfully,  even  through 
the  tiny  cracks  and  crevices  left  uncovered. 

The  rattling  of  the  carts  on  the  pave 
ment  was  cruel  torture  to  his  aching  head  ; 
the  very  air  seemed  to  burn  his  brow 
rather  than  to  cool  it. 

Naomi  sat  silently  at  the  bedside.     She 

had  never  known  before  what  it  was   to 

see  a  child   of   hers  sick  and   suffering. 

How  she  wished  that  Jacob  was  at  hand 

10  (109) 


110  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

to  tell  what  to  do  !  She  felt  helpless  and 
inexperienced,  and  full  of  fear. 

There  was  nothing  to  reassure  Mup- 
pim's  anxious  eyes  in  her  sad,  troubled 
countenance. 

He  was  very  ill  then,  as  he  suspected  ; 
surely,  such  pains,  such  sickness  could  not 
be  common.  Muppim  trembled  at  the 
thought  of  possible  death  near  at  hand. 

The  physician  came,  but  only  to  pre 
scribe  some  remedies,  and  add  his  solemn 
looks  to  the  evidence  Muppim  already  had 
of  his  condition. 

Then  came  days  of  suffering  and  nights 
of  pain.  Naomi's  face  grew  paler  and 
more  anxious.  Jacob  was  at  hand  to  lift 
the  sickboy,  and  to  give  his  help  in  the 
long  watching  in  the  quiet  room. 

Huppim  by  turns  tried  to  keep  Ard 
still,  and  then  joined  with  him  in  his  romps, 
stopping  with  a  sudden  consciousness  that 
this  ,was  no  time  for  play.  To  Hup- 


THE   SICK-ROOM.  Ill 

pirn,  the  world  seemed  all  changed.  He 
missed  his  brother  every  hour,  and  wished 
he  could  be  allowed  to  see  him  now  and 
then,  and  do  something  for  him  instead  of 
standing  behind  the  counter,  or  trying  to 
keep  Ard  cool  and  pleasant. 

There  was  a  new  face  in  Naomi's  family 
room,  and  gentle  hands  were  bathing 
Muppim's  hot  forehead,  and  giving  him 
cooling  drinks.  Naomi  was  quite  worn 
out.  She  could  bear  up  no  longer,  and 
Mrs.  Pay  had  insisted  upon  taking  her 
place,  for  a  few  hours  at  least,  that  she 
might  have  a  good  quiet  rest.  That  was 
not  the  first  act  of  kindness  Naomi  had 
experienced  from  her  Christian  neighbors, 
in  this  time  of  trial. 

Naomi  had  but  few  friends  of  her  own 
nation,  none  with  whom  she  had  been  inti 
mate.  There  was  no  one  who  loved  her 
well  enough  to  go  to  a  house  where  a  per 
son  was  ill  with  a  malignant  fever  ;  no  one 


112  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

cared  to  peril  life  for  the  sake  of  the  poor 
sick  boy  and  his  weary  mother. 

Mrs.  Fay  needed  no  urging  to  bring 
her  to  Naomi's  side.  Muppim  was  dear 
for  his  own  sake,  and  Mrs.  Fay  wanted  to 
be  with  him,  and  Charlie  would  not  let 
her  rest  at  home.  He  was  sure  no  one 
could  nurse  Muppim  so  gently  as  his  own 
mother,  with  her  light,  loving  touch. 

Mrs.  Fay's  foot  had  been  on  the  stair 
way,  and  her  hand  upon  Muppim's  door 
many  a  time  since  his  illness,  and  Hup- 
pim's  spirits  had  been  kept  up  by  many  a 
talk  with  Charlie  Fay. 

Mrs.  Fay  was  sitting  at  Muppim's  side 
when  he  suddenly  opened  his  eyes,  and 
looked  about  him  in  his  right  mind. 

"  Mother !  where's  mother  ?"  said  the 
sick  boy,  in  a  faint  tone. 

Naomi  was  called,  and  she  bent  tender 
ly  down  beside  her  child,  while  Mrs.  Fay 
quietly  withdrew. 


THE   SICK-ROOM.  113 

"  Mother,  am  I  going  to  die  ?"  said 
Muppira,  looking  directly  into  her  face,  as 
he  spoke. 

Naomi's  tears  dropped  thick  and  fast, 
but  she  made  no  reply. 

"  Am  I  going  to  die  ?"  repeated  Mup- 
pim,  still  more  earnestly. 

"  I  hope  not!"  was  all  Naomi  answered, 
but  her  suppressed  sobs  told  how  much 
stronger  were  her  fears  than  her  hopes. 

"  Can't  you  comfort  me,  mother  ?  I  am 
terribly  afraid,"  said  Muppim,  piteously. 
Naomi  was  silent.  What  did  she  know 
of  the  world  beyond  the  grave?  God, 
she  was  sure,  was  holy  and  just ;  her  son 
had  sinned,  had  broken  the  fifth  Com 
mandment  on  the  very  eve  of  his  sickness. 
"  God  is  just,  my  son,"  was  the  mother's 
tardy  answer. 

Muppim  groaned  and  turned  away. 

He  saw  himself  as  he  had  never  seen 
himself  before.  "  God  is  just !"  Those 
10* 


THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

were  words  of  terror  to  a  selfish,  wilful 
boy,  who  had  openly  transgressed,  times 
without  number. 

"  God  is  just  I"  the  words  were  fixed  in 
Muppim's  mind,  like  the  nail  driven  home 
by  a  strong  hand. 

With  the  remembrances  of  the  sins  of 
his  youth,  there  mingled  a  new  feature  of 
terror.  The  vision  of  a  crucified  one 
hanging  in  agony  on  a  cross,  was  before 
his  eyes.  This  Jesus,  this  sufferer  might 
be  the  true  Messiah, — then  what  would  be 
the  punishment  of  the  Jew  who  had  only 
spoken  his  name  in  scorn  ! 

Muppim  lay  long  in  bitter,  anxious 
thought.  At  length  lie  said,  "  Mother,  I 
want  to  see  Charlie  Fay." 

Charlie  needed  no  second  invitation  to 
call  him  to  his  sick  friend.  "  Dear  Char 
lie,"  said  Muppim,  who  felt  in  that  hour 
of  trial  how  precious  his  blind  friend  was 
to  his  heart. 


THE    SICK-ROOM.  115 

Charlie  kissed  the  sufferer,  and  said 
cheerfully,  "  I  am  so  glad  to  be  near  you 
once  more,  Muppim  I" 

"  You  won't  have  me  long,"  said  Mup 
pim,  bitterly.  "  I  am  going  to  die  !  I  am 
horribly  afraid,  Charlie  ;  can  you  comfort 
me?" 

"  Why  are  you  afraid,  Muppim  ?"  said 
Charlie,  tenderly. 

"  God  is  just !"  groaned  the  poor  boy, 
in  his  distress. 

"  Yes,  we  all  deserve  punishment,  but 
because  Jesus  suffered  for  us,  God  will 
forgive  us  and  make  us  happy  forever,  if 
we  are  sorry  for  our  sins  and  trust  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

"  But  I  have  not  trusted  in  him  ;  I  have 
hated  to  hear  his  name,"  said  Muppim, 
despairingly. 

"  He  will  forgive  you  gladly.  He 
prayed  for  the  very  men  who  nailed  him 
to  the  cross,  '  Father,  forgive  them,  they 


116  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

know  not  what  they  do  I'  You  are  not 
worse  than  they  were.  You  have  not 
known  what  you  were  doing." 

"  But  I  might  have  known,"  urged 
Muppira. 

"  Jesus  will  forgive  you  ;  now,  will  you 
let  me  ask  him  ?" 

"  I  do  not  know  as  it  is  right,"  said  poor 
Muppim,  and  even  as  he  spoke,  his  mind 
wandered,  and  he  began  to  talk  of  the 
birds  that  were  fluttering  about  him,  and 
to  try  to  catch  them  with  his  thin  weak 
fingers. 

Muppim's  short  season  of  consciousness 
was  over ;  again  he  was  but  speaking 
wildly,  as  one  in  a  dream. 

Charlie  did  not  give  up  seeking  the 
forgiveness  of  Jesus  for  his  friend,  though 
that  friend  could  not  join  in  his  prayer. 

To  him  who  forgave  the  Jews  of  old, 
Charlie  prayed  for  the  young  son  of 
Israel,  who  in  his  extremity  had  turned 


THE   SICK-ROOM.  117 

like  the  thief  on  the  cross,  to  Jesus  as  his 
only  hope.  That  ignorant,  dying  thief 
was  forgiven,  and  Charlie  was  not  in  de 
spair. 

Muppim  might  yet  see  in  the  New  Jeru 
salem  the  Saviour,  whom  he  had  never 
known  on  earth. 


XIV. 


RD  was  sitting  on  the  floor  in  the 
family  room,  busy  with  trying  to 
make  a  teacup  stand  on  an  empty  spool. 

Huppim  came  suddenly  down  the  stair 
way  and  snatched  up  the  child,  and  bore 
him  triumphantly  into  the  shop  in  spite 
of  his  struggles  and  laughing  exclama 
tions. 

"  There,  now  ! "  said  Huppim,  setting  the 
little  fellow  down  on  the  counter.  "  There, 
that  is  because  Muppim  is  better,  and  we 
are  going  to  have  good  times  again. 
Aren't  you  glad,  Ard  ?  say.  now  !  " 

Ard  clapped  his  hands  and  gave  vent  to 
his  joy  by  a  regular  cock-crow,  and  as 
good  a  "  moo — "  as  could  be  expected 
(118) 


GOOD   NEWS.  119 

of  a  child  who  had  seen  so  little  of 
cows. 

"  Take  Ard,  mother,  or  hell  fall  off! " 
said  Huppira  to  Naomi,  who  came  in  at 
the  moment.  "  Take  him.  I  want  to  go 
tell  the  news  to  Charlie  Fay." 

"  Muppim  is  not  safe  yet,'7  said  Naomi, 
anxiously. 

"  But  he's  better,  and  Charlie  ought  to 
know  it ! "  said  Huppim,  darting  away 
with  a  beaming  face. 

It  would  have  been  hard  indeed  long  to 
keep  from  Charlie  a  piece  of  intelligence 
which  gave  him  so  much  pleasure.  He 
had  a  double  joy  in  Muppim's  recovery. 
His  playfellow  was  to  be  restored  to  him, 
and  restored  to  him,  he  believed,  to  be  a 
true  Christian. 

While  Muppim  had  lain  upon  his  sick 
bed,  trembling  between  life  and  death, 
Charlie  had  prayed  long  and  frequently 
for  him.  The  blind  boy,  moreover,  had 


120  THE   JEWISH   TWINS 

I 

been  preparing  himself  to  guide  his  dear 
friend,  if  his  life  should  be  spared,  into 
the  knowledge  of  Jesus.  He  had  heard 
his  mother  read  over  the  prophecies  re 
specting  our  Saviour,  and  then  the  passages 
in  the  New  Testament  which  record  the 
fulfilment  of  these  prophecies.  Charlie 
had  always  been  a  good  scholar  at  school, 
but  now  he  bent  his  whole  mind  to  the 
task  he  had  laid  out  for  himself,  and 
learned  with  wonderful  ease  and  rapidity. 
He  wanted  to  have  his  mind  stored  with 
the  treasures  of  the  Scriptures,  that  he 
might  unfold  them  to  Muppim,  whenever 
a  fit  opportunity  should  come. 

The  news  that  Muppim  was  really  better 
redoubled  Charlie's  interest  in  his  studies, 
and  he  was  soon  able  to  repeat  chapter 
after  chapter  of  the  New  Testament  with 
out  hesitation.  The  labor  he  had  under 
taken  for  the  sake  of  his  friend  made  his 
time  pass  away  very  pleasantly,  and  pre- 


r  GOOD   NEWS.  121 

cious  to  dwell  upon  were  the  words  of 
the  Holy  Book  which  he  had  thus  stored 
away  in  his  mind. 

The  time  came  at  last  when  Muppim 
could  sit,  bolstered  up  in  Mrs.  Fay's  great 
chintz-covered  easy-chair,  which  she  had 
lent  to  Naomi  for  the  purpose.  Very  tall 
and  slender  Muppim  looked,  learning  back 
there  in  his  dressing-gown.  His  face  was 
thin  and  dark,  and  his  black  eyes  had  a 
sorrowful,  anxious  expression,  piteous  to 
behold.  His  troubled  countenance  was 
but  the  reflection  of  his  troubled  heart. 

Muppim  was  truly  grateful  that  he  had 
not  been  called  into  the  presence  of  his 
Maker,  but  his  mind  was  all  in  wild  con 
fusion  about  religious  things.  He  longed 
to  have  a  quiet  talk  with  Charlie  ;  but  his 
head  felt  too  weak,  his  voice  was  too  feeble 
for  him  to  speak  out  the  thoughts  that 
vexed  him  day  and  night.  Meanwhile 
Muppim  had  framed  silent  prayers  of  his 
11 


122  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

own  to  •  the  crucified.  "0  Jesus!"  he 
would  say  in  his  heart,  "  if  thou  art  the 
king  of  the  Jews,  forgive  me  all  that  is 
past ;  and  if  thou  art  not,  0  God,  forgive 
me  and  guide  me  into  the  knowledge  of 
the  truth." 

The  days  went  by,  and  Muppim  slowly 
gained  his  strength,  but  summer  was  fad 
ing  into  autumn  before  he  began  to  look 
at  all  like  his  former  self.  By  degrees 
his  room  had  ceased  to  be  actually  a  sick 
room,  and  had  grown  a  place  of  family 
gathering.  Ard  might  now  be  heard  com 
ing  up  stairs,  and  stopping  as  he  mounted 
each  step,  to  give  a  little  chuckle  to  con 
gratulate  himself  on  the  achievement. 
He  even  dared  to  drag  about  Muppim's 
room  the  old  shoe  which  served  him  for  a 
carriage,  and  in  which  newspaper  doll- 
babies  rode  as  contentedly  as  in  a  gilded 
coach. 

Naomi  sat  but  seldom  now  in  the  lower 


GOOD   NEWS.  123 

room,  which  was  her  old  resort ;  her  place 
seemed  fixed  at  Muppim's  low  window, 
and  there  she  was  to  be  seen  whenever 
her  presence  was  not  required  below. 

Naomi  was  thin  and  pale  with  much 
watching,  but  there  was  a  joyous  sweet 
ness  on  her  face,  as  she  saw  her  dear  boy 
gaining  from  day  to  day.  Cheerfully, 
encouragingly  she  talked  to  him,  and 
wondered  at  his  anxious,  serious  look. 
She  wished  Huppim  could  be  more  up 
stairs  and  give  out  some  of  his  life  there. 
Huppim  was  quite  the  shop-keeper  in  these 
days.  Jacob  was  almost  constantly  in 
the  country  making  up  for  the  time  he 
had  lost  in  the  sick-room,  and  Huppim 
thought  himself  particularly  entrusted 
with  the  business  matters  of  the  family, 
during  his  father's  absence.  Indeed,  he 
did  show  an  uncommon  talent  for  accounts, 
and  could  make  a  dime  into  a  dollar  as 
easily  by  trading  as  any  boy  in  the  city. 


124  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

His  father  saw  this  tendency  with  an  ap 
proving  eye,  and  thought  one  of  his  sons 
at  least  was  coming  on  well  in  the  path 
he  had  marked  out  for  him.  It  is  not  to 
be  supposed  that  Huppim  was  never  in  his 
brother's  room.  He  made  flying  trips 
there  to  tell  of  funny  occurrences  that  had 
taken  place  in  the  shop,  and  to  win  a  pass 
ing  smile  from  Muppim,  but  the  truth  must 
be  told,  Huppim  was  of  too  lively  a  nature 
to  care  to  be  pent  up  long  between  four 
walls,  with  nothing  outward  to  vary  his 
thoughts. 

It  was  on  Charlie  Pay  that  Muppim  re 
lied  for  companionship.  Charlie  had  once 
been  as  fond  of  fun  and  the  open  air  as 
Huppim  himself,  but  he  had  learned  an 
other  lesson  now,  and  it  was  a  privilege 
to  him  to  sit  beside  his  friend,  and  talk  in 
his  own  cheerful  way  until  Muppim's  tones 
grew  less  sad,  and  an  occasional  laugh 
was  heard  from  him. 


GOOD   NEWS.  125 

Charlie  well  knew  that  Muppin  was  not 
in  a  condition  to  have  agitating  subjects 
brought  before  his  mind.  He  waited  pa 
tiently  for  the  time  to  come  when  Muppim 
would  feel  himself  strong  enough  to  enter 
upon  the  topic  that  he  was  sure  was  never 
far  from  his  thoughts.  One  pleasant  day 
in  September,  Charlie  was  sitting  alone 
with  Muppim,  when  the  young  Jew  sud 
denly  asked,  "  What  did  you  sing,  Charlie, 
on  the  morning  of  the  Passover  ?" 
"I  don't  know  :  was  it  this  ?"— 
Charlie  sang  the  whole  of  the  hymn  be 
ginning, 

"  Guide  me,  O  thou  great  Jehovah, 

Pilgrim  through  this  barren  land, 
I  am  weak,  but  thou  art  mighty, 
Hold  me  with  thy  powerful  hand." 

Muppin  listened  with  interest,  then  said, 
"  No,  not  that,  but  that  is  very  beautiful." 

"  Yes,  that  is  one  of  my  favorites.  Oh, 
I  remember,  I  had  been  thinking  of  Jesus, 
11* 


126  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

the  true  Lamb  of  the  Passover,  shedding 
his  blood  for  us.     I  sang, 

"  Come,  let  us  sing  of  Jesus, 
The  sinner's  only  friend, 
Come,  let  us  sing  of  Jesus, 
While  hearts  and  accents  blend." 

"  That  was  it !  that  was  it ! "  said  Mup- 
pira,  very  earnestly.  "  That  set  me  to 
thinking.  I  don't  feel  about  Jesus  as  I 
did,  Charlie,  but  I  am  troubled  about 
him.  I  don't  understand7' — 

Muppim  put  his  hand  to  his  head. 

"  You  are  weak,"  said  Charlie,  tenderly. 
"  He  does  not  want  you  to  think  too  deeply 
now  ;  let  me  just  tell  you  some  of  his  own 
precious  words.  '  Let  not  your  heart  be 
troubled  :  ye  believe  in  God,  believe  also 
in  me.  If  a  man  love  me,  he  will  keep  my 
words  :  and  my  Father  will  love  him,  and 
we  will  come  unto  him,  and  make  our 
abode  with  him.  These  things  have  I 
spoken  unto  you,  being  yet  present  with 


GOOD   NEWS.  127 

you.  But  the  Comforter,  which  is  the 
Holy  Ghost,  whom  the  Father  will  send 
in  my  name,  he  shall  teach  you  all 
things,  and  bring  all  things  to  your  re 
membrance,  whatsoever  I  have  said  unto 
you.  Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace 
I  give  unto  you,  not  as  the  world  giveth, 
give  I  unto  you.  Let  not  your  heart  be 
troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid.7  7J 

"  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  neither 
let  it  be  afraid  I"  These  were,  indeed, 
precious  words  to  Muppim,  and  they  sank 
into  his  heart  like  a  message  of  peace. 
He  was  ready  to  be  guided  into  the  truth, 
and  he  would  wait  to  be  led  in  God's  good 
time,  when  his  poor  weak  head  could  study 
and  think  once  more. 

Muppim  was  beginning  to  understand 
something  of  the  gentleness  and  mercy  of 
God  in  Christ  Jesus. 


XV. 


(WYAOMI  was  a  true  mother,  and  she 
SSy  watched  her  son  with  the  interest 
that  only  a  mother  can  feel.  She  saw  that 
he  was  still  thoughtful  and  subdued,  but 
the  wild,  anxious  look  had  gone  from  his 
eye,  and  she  rejoiced  at  the  change.  She 
little  knew  how  often  he  repeated  to  him 
self,  "  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  ye 
believe  in  God,  believe  also  in  me." 

Little  by  little  Charlie  Pay  had  recited 
to  Muppirn  much  of  the  beautiful  teach 
ing  of  our  Saviour,  giving  with  it  the 
saying  of  that  Saviour,  "  My  doctrine  is 
not  mine,  but  his  that  sent  me.  If  any 
man  will  do  his  will,  he  shall  know  of  the 
doctrine,  whether  it  be  of  God,  or  whether 
I  speak  of  myself/'' 
(128) 


A   YOUNG  DISCIPLE.  129 

Muppim  had  it  set  before  him  what  it  was 
to  be  lovely  and  gentle,  meek,  humble,  and 
forgiving.  He  saw  the  beauty  of  holi 
ness,  as  taught  by  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
felt  his  own  un worthiness. 

He  was  too  weak  now  to  argue  and 
reason,  but  lie  could  try  to  follow  this  holy 
teaching,  and  take  home  the  kind  com 
mand,  "  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled." 

Ard  now  dared  to  pluck  his  brother's 
sleeve,  and  call  his  attention  to  his  tower 
of  chips,  or  his  faithful  horse  the  rocking- 
chair,  which  could  move  so  much  and  get 
on  so  little.  Huppim  did  not  find  Mup 
pim  in  moods  when  he  could  not  be  ap 
proached,  and  Naomi  somehow  felt  that 
her  dear  son  was  more  such  as  she  wished, 
than  he  had  ever  been  before. 

Muppim  had  a  daily  pleasure  now, 
through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Thayer,  who 
had  not  forgotten  his  little  friend  in  the 
time  of  his  sickness.  Flowers,  and  cool- 


130  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

ing  drinks,  fruit,  and  nice,  nourishing 
food,  he  had  sent  him  from  time  to  time, 
and  now  in  the  bright  dry  weather,  a 
carriage  drew  up  every  day  before  Jacob 
Myers'  shop,  for  Muppim  to  take  a  long 
drive,  far,  far  beyond  the  city's  utmost 
bounds. 

Charlie  Pay  was  always  one  of  the 
party  in  the  carriage,  and  sometimes  Hup- 
pim  was  there  with  his  lively  chat,  or 
Naomi,  holding  the  delighted,  prattling 
Ard  upon  her  knee. 

So  with  careful  nursing,  pleasant  com 
pany,  and  good  fresh  air.  the  young  Jew 
was  gently  led  back  to  the  strength  of 
health. 

When  Muppim  no  longer  felt  the 
strange  dizziness  in  his  head,  that  had  so 
troubled  him,  he  began  upon  the  study 
for  which  he  had  so  longed,  even  the 
faithful  study  of  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament.  Mr.  Thayer's  gift 


A   YOUNG   DISCIPLE.  131 

was  taken  from  its  wrapper,  to  become 
Muppim's  constant  companion.  It  was 
plain  that  other  eyes  had  carefully  read 
that  book  before.  Along  the  margin  there 
were  pencil-marks,  wherever  there  was  a 
prophecy  of  the  Messiah,  and  a  reference 
made  to  the  New  Testament  passage  in 
which  this  prophecy  was  fulfilled. 

Muppiin  read  of  a  promised  Saviour 
who  should  destroy  the  works  of  the 
devil,  and  while  he  ruled  his  people,  suf 
fer  for  their  sins.  He  read  of  one  who 
should  meekly  bear  persecution  and  re 
proach,  and  should  yet  be  the  King  of 
the  Jews,  the  son  of  David,  "  the  mighty 
God,"  born  at  Bethlehem,  the  child  of  a 
virgin,  of  the  family  of  David, — a  Deliverer 
was  to  come  who  would  lead  forth  his 
people  like  a  shepherd,  and  gather  all 
nations  unto  him.  He  was  to  suffer  as  no 
man  had  yet  suffered,  and  to  reign  as  no 
man  had  yet  reigned. 


132  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

So  spake  the  Old  Testament*  to  Mup- 
pim.  In  the  New,  he  read  of  Christ 
coming  in  the  appointed  way,  walking  in 
perfect  holiness,  casting  out  devils  by  his 
own  power,  fulfilling  the  prophecies,  even 
to  the  casting  of  lots  for  his  garments, 
and  the  drinking  of  vinegar  on  the  cross. 
He,  the  Only  Begotten  Son  of  God,  was 
pleased  to  suffer  for  our  sins,  and  call  both 
Jews  and  Gentiles  to  wash  away  their 
guilt  in  his  most  precious  blood. 

This  surely  was  the  Lamb,  of  which  all 
other  sacrifices  were  but  types  and  signs. 
This  Jesus  must  be  the  true  Messiah. 

It  had  been  foretold  that  the  sacrifices 
should  cease  at  Jerusalem  when  Messiah 
appeared.f  After  Christ's  death  the  Jews 
were  scattered  abroad,  their  temple  was 

*  See  "  The  Lock  and  the  Key,"  (published  by  the 
American  Tract   Society,)   a  comparison   of  the   Old 
Testament  prophecies  of  Christ,  with  their  recorded 
fulfilment  in  the  New  Testament. 
tDanielix,  26,  27. 


A    YOUNG   DISCIPLE.  133 

destroyed,  and  even  at  the  Passover,  the 
lamb  was  no  longer  slain. 

There  was  no  need  of  the  death  of 
animals  as  a  sign  that  blood  must  be  shed 
for  sin,  now  that  Jesus  had  come  to  suffer 
for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world. 

Day  after  day  the  young  Jew  read, 
prayed,  and  pondered.  Ah !  would  that 
many  of  his  dear  nation  would  do  like 
wise. 

Jesus,  in  his  loveliness,  and  his  wonder 
ful  mercy,  was  slowly  revealed  to  Mup- 
pim's  eager  search. 

Adoring,  he  at  length  cast  himself  on 
his  knees,  exclaiming  like  Thomas,  "  My 
Lord  and  my  God !" 

Muppim  had  become  in  heart  a  Chris 
tian  Jew.  A  Jew  he  must  ever  be,  by  nation ; 
he  would  not  have  renounced  that  privi 
lege.  He  was  of  the  same  people  as 
Moses  and  the  prophets.  The  Virgin  Ma 
ry  and  the  twelve  disciples  were  of  that 
12 


134  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

people  to  which  the  blessed  Saviour,  as  a 
man,  had  chosen  to  belong.  Over  that 
nation  the  Saviour  has  promised  again  to 
reign,  and  in  their  prosperity  the  Gentiles 
shall  rejoice.  Even  heaven  is  known  as 
the  New  Jerusalem,  and  he  who  wept  over 
the  ancient  city  of  his  love,  will  be  him 
self  the  light  of  the  new  city  that  shall 
be  called  by  the  name  so  dear  to  every 
child  of  Israel. 

Muppim  was  more  heartily  a  Jew  than 
ever  before,  yet  most  sincerely  a  Chris 
tian.  His  head  owned  that  the  prophe 
cies  were  fulfilled  in  Christ,  the  Messiah  ; 
his  heart  trusted  and  loved  Jesus,  the 
Saviour,  the  merciful,  all-sufficient  Re 
deemer.  The  peace  which  Jesus  has  prom 
ised  to  his  true  followers  settled  upon 
Muppim's  soul,  peace  and  joy  made  glad 
his  countenance. 


XVI 


was  in  his  own  room,  busy 
with  his  favorite  book.  "  Come ! 
come  down,  Muppim,"  said  the  voice  of  his 
brother,  from  the  foot  of  the  stairs. 

A  look  of  impatience  at  the  interrup 
tion  passed  over  Muppim's  face,  followed 
by  an  expression  of  shame,  and  an  inward 
prayer  for  forgiveness.  This  seeking  of 
his  own  pleasure  was  not  like  the  unselfish 
spirit  of  Jews,  which  Muppim  was  trying 
to  practise. 

In  a  moment  his  voice  answered,  cheer 
fully,  "  Yes,  Huppirn,  I  am  coming." 

That  unusual  effort  was  not  unnoticed 
by  the  observing  Huppirn,  and  he  wonder 
ed  what  new  motive  was  latterly  leading 

(135) 


136  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Muppim  to  trample  on  his  natural  faults, 
and  to  do  the  things  most  trying  to  him. 

"  Come  on,"  said  Huppim,  slipping  his 
arm  into  that  of  his  brother,  as  soon  as 
he  appeared,  "come  and  see  Charlie 
Fay's  present  from  Mr.  Thayer." 

Anything  concerning  Charlie  was  al 
ways  interesting  to  Muppim,  and  he  went 
on  without  delay. 

Charlie  was  kneeling  on  the  floor  of 
his  room,  caressing  a  splendid  dog,  that 
put  his  head  lovingly  against  the  boy,  as 
if  already  understanding  that  he  was  to 
be  his  master. 

"  Why  1"  exclaimed  Muppim,  "  it  is  the 
Blind  Asylum  dog.  It  is  Bravo  !  Is  he 
to  be  yours,  Charlie?" 

"  Mr.  Thayer  bought  him  and  gave 
him  to  me,  and  the  good  fellow  seems  to 
understand  it.  See  how  he  puts  his  head 
against  me  and  licks  my  hand  !  He  has 
always  seemed  fond  of  me,  Isn't  it  de- 


BRAVO.  137 

lightful  ?  I  should  not  be  afraid  to  go  any 
where  with  Bravo.  See,  when  I  put  my 
hand  in  his  collar,  he  won't  let  me  hit  the 
chairs,  put  them  where  you  will,  about  the 
room." 

The  boys  put  the  room  into  utter  con 
fusion,  and  then  Charlie  got  up  to  cross 
it,  holding  on  to  Bravo's  collar. 

The  sagacious  dog  gently  led  the  blind 
boy  about,  avoiding  any  obstacle,  and  keep 
ing  his  eye  upon  him,  as  a  tender  mother 
would  upon  her  tottering, lisping  little  one. 

"  Now  that  is  a  present  worth  having  1" 
said  Huppim,  heartily. 

"Isn't  it!"  was  Charlie's  enthusiastic 
response. 

Muppim  admired  the  dog,  too,  but  he 
more  warmly  and  deeply  felt  the  beautiful 
spirit  of  his  friend,  who  was  so  truly 
grateful  to  be  led  by  a  dumb  animal,  rather 
than  repining,  because  the  use  of  his  own 
eyes  was  denied  him. 


138  THE   JEWISH   TWINS, 

This  surely  was  the  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  given  by  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  his 
true  followers ! 

"  How  Ard  would  like  to  see  Bravo  !" 
said  Huppim,  "  I  must  go  home  and  tell 
him  about  him !" 

Away  went  the  restless  Huppim,  while 
Charlie  threw  his  arm  round  the  patient 
dog,  who  sat  down  at  his  side  ;  Muppim 
sat  down  too,  He  had  much  to  say  to 
Charlie,  and  might  not  soon  have  another 
private  opportunity. 

"  Charlie/7  said  Muppim,  "  dear  Char 
lie,  I  am  quite  happy  now  ;  I  have  found 
him  of  whom  Moses  and  the  prophets  did 
write.  I  believe  he  is  my  Saviour.  Oh, 
how  I  thank  you  !  It  was  your  patience 
in  your  trial  that  made  me  first  think 
there  must  be  truth  in  the  religion  of 
Jesus !" 

Charlie  put  his  head  upon  his  hands, 
and  tears  trickled  from  his  sightless  eyes. 


BRAVO.  139 

"  0  God,  I  thank  thee  I"  he  murmured. 
';  0  God,  I  thank  thee !  This  is  joy  that 
more  than  exceeds  all  my  sorrow  !" 

;'  Muppim,"  he  added,  after  a  pause, 
"  Muppim,  I  am  glad  I  am  blind,  if  so 
you  have  learned  to  see  your  Saviour  I" 

"  Dear  Charlie  !"  said  the  young  Jew, 
not  less  affected,  "  Dear  Charlie,  God  will 
reward  you  ;  I  can  do  nothing  for  you,  but 
try  to  follow  your  example.  But,  Charlie, 
I  find  myself  so  full  of  faults  !  Only  just 
now  I  felt  cross  to  leave  my  books  when 
Iluppim  called  me." 

"  We  ought  certainly  to  be  willing  to 
struggle  to  do  right  for  Jesus7  sake,  when 
he  has  done  so  much  for  us,"  said  Charlie. 
"  Mother  read  to  me  only  this  morning 
the  parable  of  the  sower,  and  I  noticed 
that  they  only  are  like  the  good  seed  on 
good  ground,  who  bear  fruit  with  PATIENCE. 
It  is  so  natural  to  want  to  be  good  all  at 
once,  instead  of  being  willing  to  let  God 


140  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

work  Siowly  in  us  as  it  pleases  him  best. 
I  am  afraid  I  have  been  very  impatient 
about  you,  Muppim.  I  wanted  you  to  see 
the  truth  at  once  ;  I  could  hardly  wait  for 
your  slow  studying  out  what  seemed  to  me 
so  plain !" 

"  I  felt  it  all  true  long  ago/7  said  Mup 
pim,  "  but  it  is  only  lately  that  I  could 
really  see  the  proofs,  and  feel,  oh !  so  cer 
tain  !" 

"  What  does  your  mother  say,  Mup 
pim  ?"  asked  Charlie,  with  much  inter 
est. 

Muppim's  brow  suddenly  clouded. — 
"  Mother,  poor  mother !  I  have  not  said 
a  word  to  her  yet.  I  cannot  bear  to 
grieve  her  so." 

"  Perhaps  she  may  follow  where  you 
have  led.  You  ought  to  be  frank  with 
her  at  once,  Muppim,"  was  the  quick 
answer. 

"  I  know  it !     Of  course  she  must  hear 


BRAVO.  141 

all.  Every  Jew  in  town  will  hear  it,  and 
they  will  hate  and  despise  me  I"  said  Mup- 
pira,  bitterly. 

" l  The  disciple  is  not  better  than  his 
Master/  The  Jews  cried  out,  Crucify 
him  F  "  said  Charlie,  quietly. 

"  I  know  it.  I  am  ready  to  bear  all 
for  his  sake,"  said  Muppim,  with  much 
earnestness,  "but  I  cannot  bear  to  dis 
tress  my  mother.  Huppim  too  !  I  do  not 
believe  he  will  speak  to  me — and  my  fa 
ther,  lie  will  be  ready  to  kill  me !  Oh,  Char 
lie,  you  do  not  know  how  to  be  grateful 
for  your  Christian  mother." 

"  I  know  how  to  love  her !  But  indeed, 
I  feel,  Muppim,  that  you  have  trials  of 
which  I  know  nothing.  Mine  has  been 
a  very  happy  lot,"  said  Charlie. 

Muppim  looked  at  the  sightless  eyes 
of  his  grateful  friend,  and  was  rebuked  ; 
should  not  he  too  receive  meekly  what 
ever  trials  it  pleased  his  Heavenly  Father 


112  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

to  send?  He  would  at  once  boldly  avow 
his  belief  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  take  the 
consequences  in  meek  submission.  Mup- 
pim  declared  his  determination,  and  then 
the  two  friends  knelt  for  such  true  prayer 
as  God  loves  to  hear. 


XVII. 


f  AOMI  was  sitting  in  the  inner  room 
at  her  work,  when  Muppim  entered, 
fresh  from  his  prayer  with  Charlie  Fay. 

Huppim,  busy  with  a  customer,  saw  his 
brother  pass  through  the  shop,  and  won 
dered  at  the  paleness  of  his  face  and  the 
deep  earnestness  of  his  expression. 

"  Mother,  I  want  to  see  you  alone,"  said 
Muppim,  solemnly. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  my  son  ?  Have 
you  bad  news  to  tell  ?  Your  father  —  has 
anything  happened  to  him  ?"  asked  Naomi, 
laying  her  hand  beseechingly  on  Muppim's 
shoulder. 

"  I  have  news  of  which  the  angels  are 

(143) 


144  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

glad/7  said  Muppim,  as  he  led  the  way  to 
the  upper  room. 

"  Not  now,  dear,"  said  Muppim,  gently 
but  decidedly,  as  Ard  pressed  on  to  fol 
low  his  mother. 

"  Go  to  Huppim,  dear  ;  go,"  and  Mup 
pim  put  his  own  cap  on  the  little  fellow's 
head,  who  trotted  away  to  the  shop,  to 
show  himself  thus  ornamented. 

Naomi  sat  down  on  the  side  of  the  low 
bed,  and  looked  eagerly  at  Muppim  as  he 
closed  the  door. 

"  Mother,"  said  Muppim,  earnestly,  "  do 
you  remember  how  you  talked  with  me 
in  this  very  room,  on  the  day  I  was  thir 
teen?  Do  you  remember  how  you  told 
me  that  I  now  stood  before  the  Great 
God  to  answer  for  my  own  sins,  and  to 
keep  the  law,  as  a  true  Jew  ?" 

"  I  remember,"  replied  Naomi,  faintly  ; 
"  what  wicked  thing  have  you  done,  iny 
son?" 


THE    ANNOUNCEMENT.  145 

"I  felt  what  you  said,  mother,  and  1 
have  sought  with  all  my  heart  to  know 
my  duty  ;  I  have  tried  to  do  it,  and  I  be 
lieve  God  has  watched  over  me  and  led 
me  right." 

Naomi  kissed  her  boy  in  grateful  joy, 
and  then  again  the  troubled  expression 
came  over  her  face  as  she  said,  "  What  is 
it  then  that  you  have  to  tell  me?  Speak 
out,  Muppim,"  and  the  mother's  fears  were 
again  uppermost. 

"  It  is  of  myself  I  want  to  speak, 
mother,"  said  Muppim.  "  Mother,  I  have 
studied  our  Hebrew  Scriptures,  I  have 
prayed  much  to  the  God  of  our  fathers,  I 
have  read  all  that  is  told  of  the  true  Mes 
siah,  and  I  have  found  him — I  have  found 
the  Promised  One  ;  I  know  him  and  he 
knows  me." 

A  wild  thought  for  a  moment  passed 
through  Naomi's  mind  :  Perhaps  her  dear 
son  had  been  honored  to  be  the  "  prophet," 
13 


146  THE   JEWISH    TWINS. 

the  "  Elias,"  who  was  to  come  before  the 
Messiah,  and  tell  of  him  !  This  was  a 
moment  of  exaltation  and  joy,  but  it  was 
followed  by  one  of  bitter  abasement,  as 
her  son  exclaimed,  "  Jesus  is  my  Saviour ! 
He,  mother,  is  the  Christ!  To  him  I 
trust  my  soul !  I  am  a  Christian  I" 

Naomi's  usual  gentleness  forsook  her  : 
in  sudden  anger  she  thrust  her  son  from 
her,  exclaiming,  "  I  despise  you !  I  cast 
you  off!" 

Muppim  closed  his  eyes  and  stood  in 
silent  prayer.  In  another  instant,  his 
mother's  arms  were  thrown  round  him, 
and  she  wept  bitter  tears  as  she  exclaim 
ed,  "  Oh,  my  son  !  my  poor  son  !" 

It  was  vain  for  Muppim  to  strive  to  tell 
of  the  new  joy  and  peace  he  had  found  in 
Christ  Jesus.  His  mother  laid  her  hand 
upon  his  mouth,  and  would  not  permit 
him  to  speak  such  words  in  her  presence. 
She  poured  forth  her  distress  in  one 


THE    ANNOUNCEMENT.  147 

stream  of  tender  reproaches,  to  which 
Muppim  listened  with  pity,  praying  the 
while,  that  she  whom  he  loved  best  might 
one  day  know  that  Christ,  for  whose  sake 
he  was  willing  to  be  despised  and  re 
viled. 

Even  while  Naomi  was  speaking,  she 
wondered  to  see  Muppim,  who  had  once 
been  so  impatient  of  the  slightest  rebuke, 
meeting  her  eye  with  an  expression  of  love 
and  patience  that  could  not  be  mistaken. 

Having  exhausted  her  arguments  and 
reproofs,  Naomi  said,  "  Muppim,  you  can 
not  be  allowed  to  be  with  the  other  chil 
dren,  lest  you  should  lead  them  into  your 
terrible  error  ;  here  you  must  stay  until 
your  father  comes  home,  and  he  can  best 
decide  what  is  to  be  done  with  you.  My 
poor  child  !  this  will  go  far  to  break  your 
father  entirely — he  had  hoped  so  much 
from  you."  Naomi's  tears  overcame  her, 
and  she  sat  down  a^ain. 


148  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

"  Dear,  dear  mother,  I  am  so  sorry  to 
grieve  you,"  said  Muppim,  tenderly. 

Naomi  leaned  her  head  upon  the  shoul 
der  of  her  tall  boy,  and  wept  for  a  few 
moments  in  silence. 

"  Perhaps  you  may  one  day  see  the 
truth  as  I  do,  and  then  we  might  be  happy 
together !  Dear  mother,  do  search  the 
Scriptures,  and  know  more  of  Jesus," 
Muppim  ventured  to  say. 

Naomi's  tears  were  suddenly  dried  ; 
jumping  up  quickly,  she  went  out,  locking 
the  door  behind  her. 

Muppim  was  left  to  solitary  confine 
ment,  but  he  did  not  feel  himself  alone. 
Grieved  as  he  was  to  have  so  pained  his 
mother,  he  rejoiced  that  he  was  counted 
worthy  to  suffer  for  sucli  a  Lord.  That 
Lord  he  felt  was  with  him,  a  better  com 
forter  than  any  earthly  friend. 

Muppim  had  been  praying  most  earnest 
ly  for  his  own  dear  family,  when  he  heard 


THE    ANNOUNCEMENT.  149 

Ard's  uncertain  footsteps  on  the  stairs. 
The  brother's  heart  went  out  towards  the 
child,  and  he  longed  to  admit  him,  and 
talk  to  him  of  the  Saviour,  who  said, 
"  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto 
me." 

Poor  Muppim  was  obliged  to  have 
quite  a  different  kind  of  intercourse  with 
the  pet  of  the  house.  Ard  knocked  vio 
lently  at  the  door,  to  assure  himself  that 
Muppim  was  within.  No  sooner  had 
Muppim  replied,  "  Brother  can't  let  you 
in,  darling/'  than  Ard  burst  forth,  "Bad 
boy!  Old,  bad  boy!  Ard  strike  bad 
boy  !" 

The  little  fist  came  hard  against  the 
door  again  and  again,  and  words  even 
more  harsh  and  contemptuous  came  from 
the  lips  of  the  child,  as  he  strove  to  show 
by  every  outward  demonstration  his  hor 
ror  of  his  brother. 

Muppim  was  not  affectionate  in  his 
13* 


150  THE   JEWISH    TWINS. 

manner,  but  he  was  strong  in  his  attach 
ments  ;  he  had  hardly  realized  how  dear 
Ard  was  to  him,  until  he  felt  the  bitter 
ness  of  being  reproached  and  reviled  by 
those  young  lips,  and  despised  by  that 
young  heart.  The  tears  actually  came 
in  Muppim's  eyes  ;  but  he  remembered 
his  Lord  and  Master,  forsaken  even  by 
his  disciples,  and  resolved  to  take  his 
smaller  trials  cheerfully. 

"  Dear  little  brother,"  Muppim  found 
voice  to  say,  "  Dear  Ard,  Muppim  loves 
you  very  dearly,  and  would  like  to  give 
you  one  kiss  just  now." 

"  Ain't  you  cross  in  there  ?  Ain't  you 
mad  at  me  ?"  said  Ard,  in  surprise,  ap 
plying  his  eye  at  the  same  time  to  the 
key-hole. 

"  I  am  not  angry  at  you,  darling. 
Brother  Muppim  means  never  to  get 
angry  again." 

"  I  see  you ;  you  look  real  pleasant," 


THE    ANNOUNCEMENT.  151 

said  the  little  fellow.     "  I  wish  I  could 
get  in." 

"  Ard !  Ard  I"  called  the  mother's  voice 
from  below,  and  again  the  uncertain  foot 
steps  were  heard  on  the  stairs,  the  lower 
door  closed,  and  Muppim  was  left  to  his 
meditations. 


XVIII. 


'UPPIM  had  been  two  days  in  soli- 
tary  confinement,  save  when  Na 
omi  had  come  to  plead  with  him  to  give 
up  his  delusion,  and  be  once  more  her  own 
dear  son.  She  even  pledged  herself  to 
keep  his  avowal  to  her  a  secret,  if  he  would 
but  once  more  be  heartily  a  Jew,  and  for 
get  what  had  passed.  At  each  interview, 
her  face  grew  more  sad  and  stern.  Mup- 
pim's  fare  was  reduced  to  a  scanty  supply 
of  bread  and  water,  which  Naomi  declared 
was  quite  too  good  for  one  like  him. 

Muppiin  had  no  human  being  to  speak 

with,  but  he  was  not  without  sympathy. 

He  could  hear  Charlie  Fay  singing  his 

favorite  hymns  in  the  next  house,  and  now 

(152) 


THE   PRISONER.  153 

and  then  Charlie's  flute  would  sound  out 
its  sweet,  sad  tones.  The  blind  boy  had 
developed  a  wonderful  talent  for  music, 
and  Mr.  Thayer  was  giving  him  every 
opportunity  of  improving  it.  The  cheerful 
sounds  from  Charlie's  room  were  a  contin 
ual  lesson  to  Muppim,  and  he  resolved,  like 
a  caged  bird,  to  give  forth  only  a  grateful 
song  in  his  own  confinement.  At  mid 
night  on  the  third  day  of  Muppim's  dis 
grace,  he  was  roused  from  sleep  by  a  hand's 
being  laid  upon  his  shoulder.  He  looked 
up,  and  Huppim  stood  by  the  bedside  with 
a  shaded  candle  in  his  hand. 

"  Huppirn  !  how  came  you  here  ?';  said 
Muppim,  starting  up  in  bed. 

"  Hush ! "  said  the  visitor,  putting  his 
fingers  to  his  lips.  "  Hush  !  I  got  the 
key  out  of  mother's  pocket,  while  she  was 
asleep.  I  would  come  to  see  you.  I  have 
brought  you  some  cold  meat,  and  a  piece 
of  pie.  You  must  be  terribly  hungry." 


154  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Muppim  looked  wistfully  at  the  food, 
but  said,  decidedly,  "  I  do  not  like  to  take 
it,  Huppim.  You  are  very,  very  kind  ; 
but  mother  said  I  must  eat  nothing  but 
bread  and  water.  I  am  sorry  to  grieve 
her.  I  at  least  can  obey  her." 

"  What  a  queer  boy  you  are ! "  said 
Huppim,  half  provoked.  lt  I  took  so  much 
pains  to  get  to  you ! " 

11  And  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you/7  said 
Muppim,  more  affectionately  than  he  had 
ever  spoken  before.  "  I  never  loved  any 
of  you  half  as  well  as  I  do  now.77 

"  You  don't  seem  like  yourself,  Muppim. 
You  are  so  gentle  and  quiet.  Why,  if  I 
were  you,  I  should  be  just  as  mad  as  I  could 
be,  to  be  shut  up  here.  I  wouldn't  stay 
— I  wouldn't.  I'd  just  jump  out  of  the 
window  and  be  off.  I  don't  see  what  it  is 
all  about.  I  can't  understand  how  a  Jew 
can  be  anything  else  than  a  Jew.  If  being 
a  Christian  was  being  like  Charlie  Fay, 


THE   PRISONER.  155 

I  shouldn't  mind  it  myself,  but  I  can't  see 
how  that  can  be  ;  we  are  not  the  same 
kind  of  folks.77 

"  I  am  just  as  much  a  Jew  as  ever/7  said 
Muppim,  "  and  glad  to  be  of  the  same  race 
as  Messiah.  But,  Huppim,  I  do  believe  in 
the  Lord  Jesus  as  the  Christ,  and  love  him 
with  all  my  heart,  and  I  wish  you  did, 
too".77 

"  I  am  more  like  father  ;  I  don't  take 
hold  of  these  things,  somehow,  as  you  do,77 
replied  Huppim,  thoughtfully. 

"  But,  dear  brother,  you  have  got  to  die 
all  alone,  just  as  I  have,  and  then  when 
Jesus  sits  on  the  throne  to  judge  the  world, 
you  will  have  to  answer  for  it,  if  you  have 
never  tried  to  know  him.  Won7t  you 
think  of  that,  Huppim  ?  The  Jews  are 
looking  for  the  Messiah,  and  will  not  see 
that  he  has  already  come.77 

"  I  never  thought  much  about  him,  any 
way,77  said  Huppim.  "  But  what  are  you 


156  THE   JEWJSH   TWINS. 

going  to  do,  shut  up  here  ?  When  father 
comes  home,  he  will  whip  the  skin  off  from 
you,  just  as  likely  as  not.  I'd  run  away 
before,  if  I  were  in  your  place.  I  don't 
know  what's  to  become  of  me.  Mother 
don't  let  me  speak  to  Charlie  Pay,  and  he 
don't  know  what's  the  matter.  I'm  sure 
he  thinks  it  hard  of  me.  If  it  wasn't  for 
Bravo,  he  wouldn't  get  to  school  at  all. 
I  tell  you,  Muppim,  that's  a  great  dog ! 
He'll  fetch  and  carry.  He  knows  almost 
as  much  as  a  boy  ! " 

"  He  must  be  a  real  comfort  to  Charlie. 
I  am  so  glad  he  has  him,"  said  Muppim, 
warmly. 

"  Now,  Muppim,  you  are  queer.  You 
seem  just  as  pleasant  as  ever.  It  is  real 
good  to  see  you  ;  but  I  must  be  off,  or 
mother  '11  find  out.  I  wouldn't  have  her 
know  I'd  been  in  here  for  a  pretty  penny. " 

"Dear  Huppirn,  it  has  been  a  real  treat 
to  see  you  ;  but  don't  come  again  secretly. 


THE   PRISONER.  157 

It  is  not  right  to  do  it  without  mother's 
leave.  It  is  very  pleasant  to  me  to  kn  o w 
that  you  don't  feel  hard  towards  me." 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it ! "  said  Huppim,  warmly. 
"  I  never  liked  you  half  so  well  in  my 
life.  Somehow  that  sickness  did  you  a 
heap  of  good  !  You  seem  like  a  different 
boy,  totally." 

"  If  there  is  anything  good  in  me,  Hup 
pim,  it  is  because  the  Lord  Jesus,  whom 
I  am  trying  to  serve,  helps  me,  and  is  ever 
with  me.  If  you  only  knew  him  as  I  do, 
I  should  be  very,  very  happy ! " 

"  Well,  you  certainly  tell  well  for  your 
new  way  of  thinking,"  said  Huppim.  "  I 
wouldn't  mind  being  somewhat  improved 
myself.  But  I  must  say  good-night  to  you. 
I  sha'n't  promise  not  to  come  to  see  you 
again.  I  like  the  fun.  As  the  key  is  on 
my  side  now,  I  can  do  as  I  please.  Time 
was,  when  you  used  to  lock  me  out/'  said 
Muppim,  mischievously. 
14 


158  THE    JEWISH    TWINS. 

"  I  was  selfish  often,  I  know.  I  see  it 
quite  plainly  now,  and  I  want  you  to  for 
give  me  for  not  being  a  better  brother  to 
you  ;  will  you?"  asked  Muppim,  earnestly. 

"  Why,  Muppim  !  You  hate  to  own  up 
to  anything,  and  you  say  that !  Of  course 
we  are  quits.  I  have  nothing  laid  up 
against  you.  Why,  old  fellow  !  what's 
got  into  you  ?"  For  the  first  time  since 
babyhood,  the  brothers  kissed  affection 
ately,  and  so  they  parted. 


XIX. 

gisnglhu, 

fACOB  MYERS  was  thoroughly  an 
gry,  when  on  his  return  he  found  out 
what  had  occurred  during  his  absence. 
Jacob  thought  it  no  sin  to  have  all  his 
thoughts  and  all  his  interest  in  his  worldly 
business.  He  thought  it  no  sin  to  talk  of 
his  bargains  in  the  synagogue  between  the 
prayers,  or  even  while  he  had  the  holy 
words  on  his  lips,  to  be  adding  up,  men 
tally,  dollars  and  cents.  Like  too  many 
who  call  themselves  Christians,  he  was 
contented  with  an  outside  religion  for 
himself  and  his  children,  but  clung  to  that 
as  if  it  were  the  one  thing  needful.  That 
one  of  liis  family  should  become  a  follower 
of  Christ,  he  thought  a  disgrace  too  bitter 

(159) 


160  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

to  be  borne,  and  he  resolved  to  keep  the 
whole  matter  a  secret,  and  try  and  bring 
back  his  boy  to  his  own  way  of  thinking. 

Jacob  was  not  much  of  a  scholar,  and 
he  had  no  skill  in  arguing.  He  did  not 
undertake  to  convince  Muppim  that  he  had 
made  a  mistake  ;  his  plan  was  quite  differ 
ent. 

Jacob  knew  how  to  use  as  hard  lan 
guage  as  any  man  in  the  city,  and  he  gave 
Muppim  the  benefit  of  some  of  the  harsh 
est  scolding  that  human  lips  ever  uttered, 
— not  to  speak  of  the  outward  signs  of 
contempt,  so  marked  among  the  Jews,  to 
which  even  our  Saviour  himself  was  sub 
jected. 

Jacob  had,  moreover,  a  certain  strong 
leather  whip,  which  he  called  his  "  family 
regulator,"  and  which  was  now  brought 
out  to  do  duty. 

When  Naomi  heard  the  lashes  fall  thick 
and  fast,  with  no  sound  of  resistance  from 


DISCIPLINE.  161 

Muppim — not  even  a  scream — her  mother's 
heart  felt  for  him.  Again  and  again  Ja 
cob  tried  the  virtue  of  whipping  and  scold 
ing,  and  met  only  a  firm  refusal  to  give 
up  the  religion  of  Jesus,  and  a  rneek  sub 
mission  to  the  punishments  imposed. 

Jacob's  resolution  was  at  length  taken. 
He  could  not  have  one  black  sheep  to  in 
fect  his  whole  flock.  He  would  not  have 
it  known  that  a  son  of  his  had  departed 
from  the  faith  of  his  fathers,  and  made 
himself  an  object -of  scorn  and  hatred  to 
his  own  people.  Muppim  should  be  sent 
from  his  home,  and  not  live  where  he 
would  disgrace  his  family. 

Naomi  pleaded  for  her  son,  and  felt 
how  dear  Muppim  was  to  her  even  now,  in 
his  patient  endurance  of  rebuke  and  chas 
tisement. 

Jacob  was  not  to  be  shaken  in  his  de 
termination.  With  his  own  hands  he  put 
up  Muppim's  small  wardrobe  in  a  travel- 
14* 


162  THE   JEWISH  TWINS. 

ling  bag,  and  then  told  the  astonished 
boy  that  he  was  to  leave  his  father's  house 
forever,  and  go  to  earn  his  bread  in  a  dis 
tant  city,  as  best  he  could. 

"  I  wont  be  hard  on  you,"  said  Jacob  ; 
"you  shall  have  twenty  dollars  to  start 
with,  Muppirn.  Many  a  rich  man  has  had 
less  ;  but  never  let  me  see  your  face  again, 
to  my  dying  day." 

Jacob  would  allow  no  leave-takings. 
Naomi  was  not  permitted  to  say  one  word 
to  her  child.  She  heard  his  footsteps  as 
his  father  led  him  away.  The  door  closed, 
and  she  knew  that  Muppim  was  gone  from 
her  forever.  Then  her  grief  burst  forth, 
and  she  would  not  be  comforted  ;  indeed, 
she  had  no  comforter. 

Ard  had  been  for  some  days  in  a  state 
of  rebellion  about  Muppim's  confinement. 
He  declared  that  his  brother  was  a  good 
boy,  and  "  spoke  pleasant,"  and  he  should 
be  let  out.  As  for  Huppim,  his  indigna- 


DISCIPLINE.  163 

tion  knew  no  bounds.  He  said  he  did 
not  want  to  be  a  Jew  if  Jews  could  beat 
arid  scold  a  boy  like  Muppim,  just  for  hav 
ing  his  own  notions,  and  he  did  not  care 
how  soon  he  was  turned  out  too. 

Jacob  Myers  did  not  return  to  a  happy 
home  that  day.  The  dinner  might  as  well 
not  have  been  placed  on  the  table,  for 
nobody  touched  it  but  Ard,  and  he  ate 
and  sulked,  and  sulked  and  ate,  in  the 
worst  possible  humor. 

As  for  Jacob,  he  felt  quite  ashamed  of 
himself,  now  that  it  was  all  over  ; — not 
ashamed  of  his  harshness,  but  that  his 
heart  so  yearned  for  the  absent  Muppim. 


XX. 


fACOB  had  paid  Muppim's  fare,  and 
put  him  in  the  cars  for  a  distant 
western  city,  laying  his  commands  upon 
him  to  make  no  nearer  station  his  stop 
ping-place.  Jacob  knew  that  he  could 
depend  upon  Muppirn's  implicit  obedience. 
He  was  but  the  more  faithful  keeper  of 
the  moral  law,  for  his  ne\v  principles  ;  that 
the  father  well  knew. 

Muppim  could  hardly  realize  that  he 
was  alone  in  the  world,  as  the  swift  cars 
bore  him  rapidly  away  from  his  native 
city.  He  looked  round  upon  the  faces 
gathered  in  that  long,  narrow  car.  On 
every  countenance  there  were  lines  of  care 
and  sin.  Few  there  were  that  bore  the 

(164) 


MUPPIM.  165 

traces  of  being  loving  or  lovable.  This 
was  a  specimen  of  the  people  of  this  world, 
— of  those  for  whom  Christ  died.  For 
such  as  these  he  came  to  suffer  the  cruel 
death  upon  the  cross. 

More  wonderful  than  ever  seemed  to 
Muppim  the  redeeming  love  of  the  Sav 
iour  ; — that  Saviour  he  knew  was  then 
present  at  his  side,  and  would  never  leave 
him  desolate. 

Muppim  took  out  his  dear  Bible,  and 
was  soon  lost  to  outward  circumstances 
in  his  interest  in  it.  Mile  after  mile  was 
passed  over,  and  the  young  Jew  had  not 
raised  his  head.  At  length  expressions 
of  admiration  from  the  surrounding  trav 
ellers  attracted  his  attention.  His  book 
was  laid  aside.  He  was  to  read  no  more 
that  day. 

Muppim  had  never  been  ten  miles  be 
yond  the  bounds  of  his  native  city.  Rivers 
shining  in  the  sun,  and  mountains  tower- 


166   .  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

ing  towards  the  skies,  were  new  sights 
to  him — new  evidences  of  the  power  and 
love  of  the  Creator.  There  were  many 
to  speak  of  the  beauty  of  the  changing 
landscape,  but  few  who  looked  forth  from 
the  swift-moving  cars,  to  praise  the  Lord 
for  his  wonderful  works,  as  did  the  young 
Jew  on  his  first  journey. 

Night  carne  at  last,  and  the  scattered 
villages  could  only  be  traced  by  the  twink 
ling  lamps  in  their  quiet  homes.  One  by 
one  those  lights  went  out,  and  only  the 
ever-shining  stars  remained  to  vary  the 
darkness  which  covered  earth  and  heaven. 

Muppim  commended  himself  anew  to  the 
care  of  his  Saviour,  and  then  putting  his 
head  upon  his  arm,  he  fell  into  as  sweet  a 
sleep  as  Ard  was  then  enjoying  in  his  dis 
tant  home. 

There  was  a  stir  and  bustle  in  the  cars 
in  the  early  morning.  It  was  plain  that 
some  important  stopping-place  had  been 


MUPPIM.  167 

readied.  Yes,  the  city  to  which  Muppim 
was  banished  was  near  at  hand.  In  a  few 
moments  Muppim  would  have  to  seek 
some  other  resting-place  than  the  cars, 
where  he  had  been  so  tranquil. 

There  were  eager  faces,  watching  to 
welcome  the  passengers  as  they  stepped  on 
the  platform.  There  were  mothers,  ready 
to  kiss  returning  school-boys.  There  were 
men  of  business,  to  take  the  well-known 
travellers  by  the  button,  and  employ  the 
few  moments  of  delay  in  important  con 
versation.  Everybody  seemed  in  a  hurry, 
everybody  seemed  to  know  where  to  go, 
and  what  to  do. 

Muppim  felt  confused  and  lonely  in  the 
midst  of  that  bustling  scene.  He  strength 
ened  himself  with  the  thought  that  there 
was  one  Being  near  him,  to  whom  he  was 
not  a  stranger  ;  One  who  could  guide  his 
footsteps  even  in  that  great  city. 

Muppim  took  breakfast  at  the  railroad 


168  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

station,  and  then,  with  his  small  carpet 
bag  in  his  hand,  he  followed  the  throng 
pouring  towards  the  main  street  of  the 
city.  There  Muppim  had  resolved  to  seek 
a  position  as  clerk.  For  the  small  trad 
ing  of  his  youth  he  had  no  taste.  He 
did  not  care  to  make  money  ;  he  simply 
wished  to  earn  an  honest  living,  and  to 
have  a  shelter  in  some  Christian  home. 
We  will  not  tell  all  the  adventures  of  that 
weary  day.  We  need  not  describe  the 
various  ways  in  which  Muppim  was  re 
pulsed  and  refused.  A  lad  with  a  Jewish 
face,  and  without  recommendation  or 
references,  was  not  likely  to  get  a  situa 
tion  at  once. 

Muppim  would  not  be  disheartened. 
When  he  went  to  a  third-rate  hotel  at 
evening,  it  was  not  to  give  himself  up  to 
sorrowful  meditations.  No  !  he  had  quite 
another  plan  in  his  mind.  His  father  had 
forbidden  him  to  write  to  any  of  the  fam- 


MUPPIM.  169 

ily,  and  had  assured  him  that  if  he  at 
tempted  it,  his  letters  would  be  burnt,  un 
opened.  "  The  Christians  may  take  care 
of  you.  You  belong  to  them,  now,"  Jacob 
had  roughly  said. 

To  a  certain  young  Christian,  very  dear 
to  Muppim,  he  now  resolved  to  write. 
Charlie  Fay  could  tell  him  all  about 
Jacob's  home  ;  and  in  this  way,  though  so 
far  distant,  Muppim  hoped  to  hear  con 
stant  news  of  his  own  family,  not  to  speak 
of  the  pleasure  of  holding  communication 
with  Charlie,  himself.  Muppim  was  sure 
that  Mrs.  Fay  would  willingly  act  as 
amanuensis  for  her  unfortunate  son,  and 
already  he  began  to  enjoy  in  imagination 
the  agreeable  variety  of  letters  from 
Charlie. 

Muppim  did  not  say  one  word  of  the 
trying  scenes  that  had  preceded  his  ban 
ishment.  He  simply  stated  that  his  father 
had  sent  him  from  home  to  make  his  own 
15 


170  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

way  iii  the  world,  and  had  forbidden  him 
to  hold  any  communication  with  his  own 
family,  and  therefore  any  news  that  Char 
lie  could  give  of  his  neighbors  would  be 
most  acceptable. 

Muppim  gave  no  dreary  account  of  his 
discouraging  day.  He  spoke  of  the  deep 
satisfaction  he  had  taken  in  the  wonders 
of  nature  he  had  seen  on  his  journey,  and 
of  the  peace  at  his  heart,  assured  as  he 
was  that  Christ  would  never  leave  him 
nor  forsake  him.  When  Muppim  folded 
his  letter,  he  could  hardly  believe  that  he 
was  in  the  midst  of  strangers.  Charlie 
Fay  seemed  close  at  hand,  and  he  realized 
that  the  Saviour,  so  dear  to  them  both, 
was  about  their  path  to  comfort  and  cheer. 

Three  or  four  days  of  discouraging  ap 
plications  passed  away  with  Muppim.  His 
little  fund  was  of  course  diminishing,  and 
he  began  to  think  of  the  possibility  of 
actually  coming  to  want.  He  had  never 


MUPPIM.  171 

known  what  it  is  to  lack  the  comforts  of 
life,  and  latterly,  since  his  father's  pros 
perity  had  increased,  he  had  been  supplied 
with  many  luxuries. 

Muppim  trusted  in  the  care  of  Provi 
dence,  but  he  knew  that  it  became  him  to 
be  prudent  and  earnest  in  seeking  employ 
ment.  Before  commencing,  therefore,  upon 
his  fifth  day  of  effort,  he  changed  his  board 
ing-place  to  a  still  less  attractive  and  less 
expensive  hotel,  where  the  company  was 
by  no  means  to  his  taste. 

Sallying  out  to  enter  new  warehouses, 
and  have  interviews  with  more  strangers, 
Muppim  renewed  his  search  for  a  situa 
tion.  His  application  had  been  refused 
so  many  times,  that  he  felt  that  he  now 
spoke  as  if  he  expected  to  be  rejected,  and 
had  none  of  the  confident,  self-respectful 
air  that  promotes  success.  With  the  heads 
of  the  establishments,  he  could  find  no 
fault.  They  dismissed  him  shortly,  but 


172  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

with  no  unnecessary  harshness.  With  the 
clerks  it  was  quite  different. 

"  We  are  honest  here — we  don't  Jew" 
said  one  spruce  lad  behind  the  counter,  in 
answer  to  Muppim's  inquiry  whether  there 
was  a  vacant  position  in  the  store  for  a 
clerk.  "We  keep  a  sharp  look-out  for 
strangers  whom  nobody  knows,"  said  an 
other.  These,  and  other  similar  attempts 
at  witticisms,  were  particularly  painful  to 
a  spirit  like  Muppim's  ;  but  he  struggled 
to  bear  them  with  patience,  remembering 
him  "  who  humbled  himself  to  the  form 
of  a  servant/7  for  our  sakes.  This  day 
passed  away  as  the  others  had  done. 
Muppim's  future  was  still  uncertain,  yet 
he  did  not  despair.  His  "  daily  bread 
was  sure  ;"  though  the  way  of  earning  it 
was  yet  unknown. 

Muppim  had  been  for  some  days  on  the 
look-out  for  an  answer  from  Charlie  Fay. 
Here,  too,  he  had  been  several  times  dis- 


MUPPPIM.  173 

appointed.  A  letter  for  Muppim  Myers 
was  waiting  for  him,  however,  on  the 
evening  of  the  last  and  most  trying  day. 

Mrs.  Fay  could  hardly  write  fast  enough 
to  express  the  loving,  Christian  sympathy 
that  poured  from  Charlie's  lips.  He  hon 
ored  Muppim's  silence  about  his  home  dif 
ficulties,  but  could  easily  guess  them  all. 
If  Charlie  had  had  only  sympathy  to  ex 
press,  he  could  have  dispatched  at  once 
enough  of  that — but  he  could  not  content 
himself  in  that  way. 

Charlie  well  knew  that  Jacob  Myers 
would  not  send  forth  his  son  to  live  in 
idleness  in  that  western  city.  But  how 
was  Muppim,  a  stranger,  to  get  employ 
ment?  This  thought  Charlie  turned  over 
and  over  in  his  mind.  Muppim's  silence 
on  the  subject  convinced  him  that  the  first 
few  days7  efforts  had  been  by  no  means 
successful.  Charlie's  meditations  ended 
in  taking  Bravo  by  the  collar  and-  going 
15* 


174  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

out  for  a  long  walk,  a  walk  that  ended  at 
Mr.  Thayer's  comfortable  home. 

Charlie  had  not  mistaken  the  warm 
hearted  old  gentleman.  His  interest  was 
at  once  aroused  for  Muppim.  The  boy 
who  had  so  courageously  risked  all  for 
Christ,  should  not  be  deserted  by  his 
Christian  friends  ! 

Mr.  Thayer  well  knew  that  his  name 
had  reached  the  western  cities,  and  was  a3 
well  known  "  on  change7'  as  if  he  were  the 
head  of  a  banking  institution.  In  real 
business  style  he  dashed  off  short  notes  to 
several  of  the  leading  merchants  in  Mup- 
pirn's  present  stopping-place.  Notes  they 
were  of  thorough  recommendation,  to  a 
certain  Christian  Jew,  Muppim  Myers, 
who  would  be  glad  of  any  situation  where 
he  could  earn  an  honest  living,  and  who 
well  deserved  confidence  and  kind  con 
sideration. 

Muppim  was  astonished  when  those  three 


MUPPIM.  175 

notes  dropped  from  the  envelope,  contain 
ing  Charlie's  warm-hearted  response  to  his 
words  of  inquiry.  Charlie  had  no  news 
to  tell  of  his  neighbors,  excepting  that 
they  were  all  well,  but  that  nobody  about 
the  house  seemed  cheerful.  Even  Ard 
was  reported  as  unusually  cross,  and  Hup- 
pim  had  not  been  seen  with  a  smile  on  his 
face.  Of  course  Charlie  had  had  no  di 
rect  intercourse  with  the  family,  but  he 
and  his  mother  would  gladly  communicate 
even  the  most  trifling  particulars  of  their 
daily  life  that  came  under  their  knowledge. 
Charlie  had  much  to  say  of  his  love  to 
his  distant  friend,  but  not  a  word  of  the 
efforts  he  had  made  for  him.  Mr.  Thay- 
er's  notes  were  enclosed  with  one  from  him 
self,  telling  Muppim  to  keep  up  heart,  for 
the  best  situations  were  not  the  easiest  to 
get, — and  assuring  him  that  Christ  and 
his  Christian  friends  would  not  forsake 
him. 


176  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Muppim  had  endured  his  disappoint 
ments  and  his  loneliness  with  great  calm 
ness,  but  the  expression  of  such  interest 
and  sympathy  overcame  him.  The  tall 
boy  who  had  begun  to  attract  attention 
at  the  tavern  where  he  stayed,  was  actu 
ally  in  tears.  Tears  of  grateful  joy  were 
not  the  only  evidence  that  Muppim  gave 
of  the  state  of  his  heart.  No  !  his  prayers 
that  night  were  full  of  loving  trust  in  his 
Saviour,  and  deep  thankfulness  for  all  his 
mercies. 


XXI. 


f  HOUGH  Muppim  had  received  a  flat 
refusal  at  Delmont  &  Child's  when 
he  had  applied  to  be  admitted  there  as  a 
clerk,  he  found  Mr.  Thayer's  note  of  in 
troduction  put  the  affair  on  quite  a  differ 
ent  footing. 

The  heads  of  the  establishment,  to 
whom  he  had  been  denied  admittance,  he 
was  now  permitted  to  see,  though  not 
without  suspicious  glances  on  the  part  of 
the  clerks.  A  short  interview  in  the 
small  sanctum  boarded  in  at  one  end  of 
the  large  establishment,  placed  Muppim 
in  quite  a  different  light  before  the  per 
sons  employed  there. 

He  was  no  longer  a  straggling  Jew 
(177) 


178  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

applying  for  the  situation  he  did  not  de 
serve.  He  was  a  person  introduced  by 
the  well-known  John  Thayer,  and  prompt 
ly  provided  with  occupation  in  the  lace 
department  of  the  great  "  store,"  where  he 
soon  showed  himself  quite  at  home.  It 
was  a  new  thing  to  Muppim  to  be  tied 
down  to  regular  hours,  and  to  be  kept  on 
his  feet  through  the  long  day. 

Naomi  had  accommodated  herself  to  his 
tastes,  and  many  a  time  Muppim  had  been 
reading  in  his  own  room,  while  Ids  mother 
was  waiting  upon  customers.  Now  there 
was  no  mother  to  come  in  between  Mup 
pim  and  his  round  of  duties.  Here  was  a 
new  opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  Chris 
tian  patience  and  cheerfulness.  Muppim 
must  lay  aside  his  studies.  He  had  only 
time  to  read  a  few  chapters  in  his  Bible 
every  day.  He  could  no  longer  pore  over 
it  for  hours,  tracing  Christ  in  Joseph  be 
trayed  of  his  brethren,  Moses  leading  the 


A   RESOLUTION.  179 

chosen  people,  Aaron  entering  into  the 
holy  of  holies,  or  David  the  God-appoint 
ed  King  of  the  Jews. 

Now  was  Muppim's  time  for  fulfilling 
the  command  to  "labor  with  his  own 
hands,"  and  "  in  whatsover  state  he  was, 
therewith  to  be  content." 

The  selling  of  laces  was  not  in  itself  an 
ennobling  occupation,  but  he  could  make 
it  so  by  entering  into  it  as  a  duty  given 
him  by  God.  His  faithfulness,  prompt 
ness  and  industry  would  win  the  approval 
of  his  Saviour,  and  so  each  day  he  would 
be  making  his  earthly  calling  a  stepping- 
stone  towards  heaven.  He  would  serve 
God  in  his  labor,  if  he  could  no  longer 
spend  hours  in  the  study  of  his  precious 
Word. 

It  seemed  very  strange  to  Muppim  to  be 
at  his  ordinary  occupations  on  the  last 
day  of  the  week, — the  Jewish  Sabbath. 
He  found  it  hard  to  cast  off  the  idea  that 


180  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

he  was  doing  wrong,  as  he  stood  behind 
the  counter,  when  he  had  been  wont  to 
be  in  the  synagogue. 

Saturday  became  to  him  a  day  of  prep 
aration  for  the  true  Christian  Sabbath.  As 
the  old  feelings  and  old  associations  came 
up,  he  recalled  the  words  of  the  Son  of 
man,  who  had  spoken  of  himself  as  "  Lord 
of  the  Sabbath.77  He  dwelt  on  the  glory 
of  that  day  when  Jesus  rose  from  the 
tomb,  and  the  first  day  of  the  week  be 
came  the  best  of  days  to  all  Christians — 
the  Lord's  day. 

Very  welcome  to  Muppim  was  the  true 
rest  that  was  sure  for  him  on  Sunday 
morning.  Then  he  might  give  his  thoughts 
wholly  to  the  Saviour,  and  study  his  pre 
cious  word,  without  haste  or  interruption. 

To  worship  with  Christians  was  a  most 
welcome  privilege  to  Muppim.  At  church 
he  felt  himself  among  friends,  though  in 
the  midst  of  strangers.  He  was  one 


A   RESOLUTION.  181 

among  Christ's  people,  when  he  has  spe 
cially  promised  to  be  in  the  midst  of  them. 

Muppim  was  beginning  to  feel  that  lie 
ought  to  be  openly  acknowledged  as  a 
follower  of  Jesus,  and  this  conviction  was 
suddenly  forced  upon  him  as  an  immediate 
duty. 

He  was  surprised  one  Sunday  by  hear 
ing  the  clergyman  call  on  the  persons  to  be 
baptized  to  come  forward.  A  young  man 
and  two  elderly  women  came  up  with 
their  witnesses,  and  in  the  presence  of  the 
congregation,  were  baptized  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.  Of 
course  the  ceremony  was  deeply  inter 
esting  to  Muppim,  but  he  was  even  more 
interested  in  the  sermon  that  followed. 
With  earnestness  the  faithful  minister 
urged  upon  all  who  would  be  owned  by 
the  Saviour  at  the  last  day,  to  acknowledge 
him  now,  in  the  ways  in  which  he  has 
appointed.  He  has  commanded  that  those 
16 


182  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

who  believe  shall  be  baptized.  He  has 
given  to  his  true  people  the  privilege  of 
taking  the  Lord's  Supper  in  remembrance 
of  him.  They  cannot  well  be  Christians 
who  refuse  to  be  baptized  in  his  name, 
and  will  not  take  the  bread  and  wine  at 
his  holy  table. 

As  Muppim  listened,  his  resolution  was 
taken.  A  minister  of  Christ  certainly 
would  not  turn  away  from  a  stranger,  who 
sought  to  be  baptized  in  the  name  of  his 
Master.  When  the  worshippers  had 
scattered  away  from  the  church,  a  tall 
young  Jew  still  stood  waiting  without. 

What  Christian  minister  does  not  feel 
his  heart  warm  towards  a  Jew  seeking  to 
draw  near  to  the  true  King  of  Israel  ? 
Who  does  not  deem  it  a  privilege  to  guide 
one  of  the  ancient  people  of  God  into  the 
kingdom  of  heaven?  With  such  a  request 
as  Muppim  had  to  propose,  he  was  sure  to 
be  met  with  open  arms.  Six  weeks  he  had 


A   RESOLUTION.  183 

been  a  lonely  stranger,  and  now  at  once 
he  had  found  a  real  friend.  For  six 
weeks  he  had  seen  no  one  with  whom  he 
could  speak  on  the  subject  nearest  his 
heart,  but  now  the  aged  minister  rejoiced 
with  him,  that  he  had  been  led  to  know 
the  Crucified  as  the  Messiah. 

That  Sunday  noonr  Muppirn  went  not  to 
his  humble  boarding-place.  At  the  minis 
ter's  own  table  he  sat  down  with  a  Chris 
tian  family,  and  was  rejoiced  over  with 
great  joy. 

Little  children  looked  at  him  with  lov 
ing  interest,  as  a  real  Jew,  as  were  Paul 
and  Peter,  and  Moses  and  Elijah.  A 
motherly  Christian  heart  expressed  its 
warm  sympathy  for  a  son  of  Israel  brought 
home  to  his  Father's  house. 

The  day  for  Muppim's  baptism  was 
fixed.  The  aged  minister  saw  no  reason 
for  delay  in  the  case  of  one  who  so  "  be 
lieved  with  all  his  heart." 


184  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

"-Your  name  is  a  peculiar  one,  my 
young  friend  ;  you  have  now  an  opportu 
nity  to  change  it  if  you  will,"  said  the 
clergyman,  in  concluding  their  conversa 
tion. 

"  I  hope  to  have  a  '  new  name7  in  the 
New  Jerusalem,"  said  Muppim,  slightly 
coloring.  "  Here,  I  would  rather  keep 
the  Hebrew  name  my  parents  gave  me.  I 
am  not  ashamed  of  being  a  Jew !  My 
mother  knows  me  by  that  name,  and  it 
binds  me,  too,  to  my  dear  twin-brother. 
If  we  could  only  be  baptized  together,  as 
we  once  together  received  our  names  as 
Jews!" 

Ah !  how  Muppim's  heart  yearned  for 
his  absent  brother  at  that  moment. 

"  We  will  pray  for  that  brother  ;  he 
may  yet  be  led  into  the  truth !"  said  the 
clergyman. 

With  the  earnestness  of  those  who  really 
want  that  for  which  they  pray,  Muppim 


A    RESOLUTION.  185 

joined  in  the  petitions  then  offered  for  his 
absent  brother  and  for  the  whole  house  of 
Israel. 

Would  that  the  air  were  full  of  prayers 
for  the  peculiar  people, — then  would  they 
begin  to  seek  the  Messiah,  and  learn  to 
know  "  him  of  whom  Moses  and  the  proph 
ets  did  write." 

16* 


XXII. 


FEW  days  after  his  interview  with 
the  old  clergyman,  Muppim  was  one 
morning  going,  at  his  usual  early  hour,  to 
his  place  of  business. 

Suddenly  a  large  dog  jumped  upon  him, 
and  he  was  nearly  knocked  down  by  the 
joyous  signs  of  recognition  given  by  the 
excited  animal. 

"  Why,  Bravo  !"  cried  Muppim,  in  as 
tonishment. 

This  repetition  of  his  name  sent  Bravo 
off  in  another  series  of  gambols,  which 
said,  almost  as  plainly  as  spoken  language, 
how  glad  he  was  to  xsee  his  Jewish  friend. 
Bravo  seemed  to  have  more  to  say  than  a 

(186) 


A   SURPRISE.  187 

mere  "  How  d'ye  do  ?"  for  lie  began  to  pull 
at  Muppiin  in  a  decided  manner,  intimat 
ing  that  he  would  be  followed,  whether 
Muppim  chose  it  or  no. 

To  a  hotel  near  at  hand  he  led  the  way, 
and  did  not  stop  until  the  willing  Muppirn 
stood  at  a  bed-room  door,  at  which  Bravo 
scratched  most  vigorously. 

"  You've    found    him,   I    know,"   said . 
Charlie   Pay,   giving   admittance   to   his 
friend  and  the  dog. 

Muppim  had  only  time  to  promise  a 
long  interview  in  the  evening,  and  then 
he  forced  himself  to  his  usual  punctual 
appearance  at  the  store. 

If  Muppim  made  wrong  change  two  or 
three  times  that  day,  and  put  up  the  Va 
lenciennes  laces  in  the  Brussels-point  box, 
he  must  be  excused  ;  his  mind  was  in  such 
a  state  of  excitement  and  confusion  that 
it  was  hard  for  him  to  attend  to  his  ordi 
nary  occupations. 


188  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

His  persevering  attempt  to  be  faithful 
in  his  duties  during  the  day,  were  more 
than  rewarded  by  his  long,  long  interview 
with  Charlie  in  the  evening. 

Charlie  had  actually  seen  Huppim,  and 
had  a  good  talk  with  him.  Frequent  as 
Charlie's  letters  had  been,  they  had  never 
been  able  to  tell  more  than  that  Jacob's 
family  were  well,  but  refusing  to  have 
any  intercourse  with  the  blind  boy  who 
had  had  so  large  a  share  in  Muppirn's 
change  of  faith. 

Charlie's  news  for  Muppim  were  not 
all  good  news  ;  he  had  to  describe  a  fire 
by  night,  when  the  whole  block  of  build 
ings  in  which  he  lived  had  been  burnt,  the 
inmates  only  escaping  with  their  lives.  He 
had  to  own  that  Jacob  Myers'  shop  on 
the  corner  caught  like  tinder,  and  was 
consumed  long  before  the  brick  buildings 
next  which  it  stood.  He  gratefully  de 
scribed  the  joy  of  Naomi  when  she  was 


A  SURPRISE.  189 

sure  that  all  her  family  were  safe,  and 
Jacob's  wondering  confusion,  when  he 
knew  that  he  had  lost  all  his  property, 
had  disturbed  his  mind  ;  he  could  not  take 
hold  of  the  idea  that  his  hard  earnings 
were  consumed  in  a  night.  The  expen 
sive  laces  that  had  taken  the  place  of  the 
cheap  edgings  of  old  were  now  but  ashes. 
Jacob  was  a  poor  man  once  more.  It  was 
in  vain  that  Huppim  spoke  of  himself  as 
almost  grown  and  able  to  take  care  of  the 
family.  Jacob  cried  like  a  child,  and  would 
not  be  comforted,  though  Ard  wiped  his 
father's  eyes  with  a  vigor  that  ought  to 
have  done  some  good. 

All  this  and  more  Charlie  had  heard 
from  Huppim,  who  in  the  general  confusion 
had  not  forgotten  his  blind  friend,  and 
had  made  sure  of  his  safety.  Since  that 
terrible  night  Charlie  and  Huppim  had 
had  a  long  talk,  and  never  meant  to  be 
wholly  separated  again. 


190  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Naomi  in  her  softened  state  had  given 
Huppim  permission  to  count  Charlie  once 
more  among  his  friends,  and  poor  Jacob 
cared  for  little  now  but  the  loss  of  his 
dear  money. 

Muppim  felt  it  a  sore  trial  to  be  cut  off 
from  his  family  in  the  time  of  their  afflic 
tion  ;  he  longed  to  comfort  his  mother, 
and  to  consult  with  Huppim  as  to  what 
was  to  be  done  to  better  their  fallen  for 
tunes. 

On  one  thing  Muppim  promptly  re 
solved  :  he  had  his  first  month's  payment 
yet  untouched — he  would  forward  it  to 
Huppim  through  Mrs.  Pay,  and  say  how 
gladly  he  would  devote  all  that  he  c.ould 
earn  to  the  use  of  his  father  and  the  rest 
of  the  family. 

When  this  resolution  was  taken,  Mup 
pim  felt  a  little  relieved,  and  then  he  said, 
"  Forgive  me,  Charlie  ;  in  my  interest 
about  our  people,  I  had  almost  forgotten 


A   SURPRISE.  191 

you.  Did  you  lose  anything  at  the  fire? 
Now  I  want  to  know  what  brought  you 
here,  and  who  is  with  you  ;  you  said  you 
would  tell  me  all  about  it  to-night." 

"  And  so  I  will  ;  we  lost  everything  ! 
The  house  was  all  my  mother  owned  in  the 
world.  The  letting  of  some  of  the  rooms, 
you  know,  gave  us  our  little  income.  Oh, 
Muppim  !  I  never  felt  what  it  was  to  be 
really  blind,  until  I  knew  that  my  mother 
needed  some  one  to  earn  for  her  her  daily 
bread.  She  is  too  delicate,  you  know,  and 
I  know,  to  support  herself  and  me.  Oh, 
Muppim,  that  was  my  bitter  hour !  when 
we  could  feel  on  our  faces  the  heat  of  the 
burning  house,  opposite  to  which  we 
stood,  and  I  knew  that  we  were  left  desti 
tute.  Huppim,  he  was  at  my  side,  full  of 
hope,  saying  that  now  was  the  time  for 
the  boys  of  the  family  to  come  forward 
and  show  what  was  in  them  !  I  showed 
what  was  in  me  then  !  I  blush  to  think 


192  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

of  it — I  actually  cried,  Muppim,  I  so  long 
ed  to  be  my  mother's  protector  !  Then 
there  came  a  sweet  whisper  to  my  mind 
that  I  could  call  on  the  great  Heavenly 
Friend,  who  has  made  such  promises  to 
the  widow  and  the  fatherless.  I  gave 
myself  up  to  him  ;  I  asked  him  to  pro 
vide  for  us  in  his  own  way,  and  to  keep 
down  my  proud  heart,  that  longed  to  do 
the  work  God  had  riot  laid  out  for  me. 
As  I  stood  there  by  my  mother,  I  heard 
Mr.  Thayer's  voice  in  my  ear  ;— he  took  us 
to  his  house,  and  he  has  been,  oh,  so  kind  !" 

"  He  has  taken  charge  of  you — I  know 
it — just  like  him  I"  said  Muppim,  warmly. 

"  Better  than  that !  better  than  that, 
Muppim !  he  is  going  to  help  me  to  maintain 
myself,"  Charlie  quickly  replied.  "  He  had 
seen  an  advertisement  for  an  organist  in 
this  city,  and  so  he  would  start  right  off 
with  me,  to  let  the  people  hear  me  play, 
and  see  what  can  be  done.  He  has  been 


A    SURPRISE.  193 

out  all  day  about  it,  and  to-morrow  I  am 
to  try  in  the  church/' 

"  I  know  you  will  succeed  ;  you  are 
sure  of  a  blessing,"  exclaimed  Muppim, 
affectionately. 

"That  would  be  a  blessing,  indeed," 
said  Charlie  ;  "  but  now  I  must  send  you 
off,  for  it  is  getting  late.  I  shall  be  too 

nervous  to-morrow  to  do  well,  if  I  don't 

\ 

have  my  sleep." 

"  I  shall  write  the  letter  to  your  mother 
to-night. — and  you  are  sure  she  will  hand 
the  money  to  Huppim,  and  tell  him  all  my 
message  ?"  said  Muppim. 

"  Sure  of  it !  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  you 
should  hear  from  Huppirn  himself  shortly. 
He  did  not  know  where  you  were,  until  I 
told  him,  just  before  we  came  away.  Mup 
pim,  he  loves  you  as  he  does  his  own  eyes." 

"  I  believe  it!  I  believe  it!"  responded 
Muppim  ;   then,   with    a  hearty   "  Good 
night,"  he  parted  from  his  friend. 
17 


XXIII. 

Sip. 


expected  to  come  up 
to  his  baptism  without  a  friend  as 
his  witness,  but  the  case  was  far  different. 
When  the  young  Jew  stood  up  before  the 
congregation  to  be  baptized  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  it  was 
with  Mr.  Thayer  and  Charlie  Fay  at  his 
side. 

They  who  had  striven  to  lead  him  to 
Jesus,  were  with  him  when  he  openly 
avowed  his  Lord  and  Master,  and  was  re 
ceived  into  his  visible  church.  The  ser 
vices  of  the  day  were  most  appropriate. 
While  the  Crucifixion  was  particularly 
commemorated,  the  Jews  seemed  to  be  con 
stantly  remembered. 

MuppinVs  heart  swelled,  and  his  whole 

(194) 


THE    OUTWARD    SIGN.  195 

soul  prayed,  as  he  joined  in  the  petitions, 
"  0  merciful  God,  who  hast  made  all  men, 
and  hatest  nothing  that  thou  hast  made, 
nor  desirest  the  death  of  a  sinner,  but 
rather  that  he  should  be  converted  and 
live  ;  have  mercy  upon  all  Jews,  Turks, 
infidels,  and  heretics  ;  and  take  from  them 
all  ignorance,  hardness  of  heart,  and  con 
tempt  of  thy  word  ;  and  so  fetch  them 
home,  blessed  Lord,  to  thy  flock,  that  they 
may  be  saved  among  the  remnant  of  the 
true  Israelites,  and  be  made  one  fold 
under  one  shepherd,  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord,  who  liveth  and  reigneth,  with  tl~ee 
and  the  Holy  Spirit,  one  God,  world  with 
out  end.  Amen." 

When  the  text  was  announced,  Mup- 
pim's  attention  was  in  a  moment  fixed. 
"  And  so  all  Israel  shall  besaved  :  as  it 
is  written,  there  shall  come  out  of  Zion  a 
Deliverer,  and  shall  tarn  away  ungodli 
ness  from  Jacob."  Rom.  xi.  26. 


196  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

Very  earnestly  did  the  minister  speak 
to  his  hearers  of  the  peculiar  people  of 
God,  to  whom  such  precious  promises  were 
made.  He  called  on  all  Christians  to 
labor  for  the  conversion  of  the  Jews,  and 
and  to  do  it  in  faith,  knowing  that  the 
time  will  surely  come  when  Israel  shall 
again  be  exalted,  and  Christ  be  the  King 
of  the  Jews. 

Very  precious  words  were  these  to  TVlup- 
pirn.  New  faith  and  new  hope  for  his 
own  dear  family  sprung  up  in  his  heart, 
and  he  rejoiced  over  them,  as  if  he  already 
saw  them  bowing  the  knee  to  Jesus,  and 
hailing  him  as  Lord. 


XXIV. 

f  nu 


fHEN  Muppim  entered  church  on  the 
Sunday  after  the  Friday  on  which  he 
was  baptized,  it  was  with  peculiar  solem 
nity.  He  was  that  day  for  the  first  time 
to  take  the  bread  and  wine  of  the  com 
munion,  in  memory  of  the  body  and  blood 
of  Christ  given  for  us  on  the  Cross. 

This  was  the  Passover  season  with  the 
Jews,  and  Muppim's  thoughts  had  been 
much  with  his  own  people.  Now  he  was  to 
understand  how  "  old  things  have  passed 
away,  and  all  things  have  become  new." 

In  his  ears  were  sounded  the  solemn 
words,  "  Christ  our  Passover  is  sacrificed 
for  us,  therefore  let  us  keep  the  feast. 

"  Not  with  the  old  leaven,  neither  with 
17*  (197) 


198  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

the  leaven  of  malice  and  wickedness  ;  but 
with  the  unleavened  bread  of  sincerity 
and  truth." 

Now,  for  the  first  time,  the  young  Jew 
understood  the  whole  beauty  of  the  sacred 
feast  of  the  Christians,  wherein  Christ, 
who  is  the  Lamb  slain  for  us,  is  remem 
bered,  even  as  the  Lamb  of  the  Passover 
had  for  hundreds  of  years  pointed  out  his 
coming.  As  the  blood  on  the  door-posts 
of  Israel  preserved  their  houses  from  the 
angel  of  death,  so  Muppim  felt  his  Sav 
iour's  blood  would  make  sure  his  salvation. 

Gladly  would  Muppim  have  welcomed 
his  own  dear  ones  to  gather  with  him 
round  the  table  of  the  Lord  to  keep  the 
true  Passover,  but  that  privilege  was  still 
denied  him.  Yet,  he  did  not  lack  even 
human  sympathy  in  that  solemn  hour. 
His  hand  was  in  that  of  his  blind  friend, 
whom  he  gently  guided  to  the  place  where 
they  were  appointed  to  kneel.  There 


THE   TRUE   PASSOVER.  199 

were  many  in  the  congregation  to  rejoice 
over  the  converted  Jew,  and  welcome  him 
to  the  Christian  church. 

With  Christ's  family  Muppim  kept  that 
day  the  Passover,  and  the  blessing  of 
Christ  was  upon  him,  even  that  "  peace 
which  passeth  all  understanding." 


XXV. 


§HE  fire  that  had   broken   up   Jacob 
Myers7  home  had  done  away  with  the 
restriction  by  which  it  was  forbidden  to 
mention  the  absent  Muppim. 

Jacob  Myers  was  no  longer  the  head 
of  his  family.  The  poor  Jew,  who  had  set 
his  heart  upon  his  earthly  gains,  could  not 
withstand  the  shock  which  deprived  him 
of  what  he  loved  best.  He  seemed  as  one 
in  a  dream,  or  as  a  lost  child  wandering  in 
a  strange  country.  There  was  no  wild- 
ness  in  his  manner.  He  was  gentle, 
touchingly  gentle,  but  clung  to  Naomi  as 
to  his  stay  and  guide. 

Huppim  plainly  saw  that  they  could  not 
long  retain  even  the  humble  lodgings  they 
had  taken.     There  was  not  enough  left  of 
(200) 


A    REMOVAL.  201 

Jacob's  earnings  to  keep  his  family  from 
actual  want.  His  heart  yearned  for  his 
absent  brother.  The  two  he  thought  might 
now  sustain  the  family  burden,  "  shoulder 
to  shoulder.'7  Though  young,  they  might 
beat  back  the  storm  of  adversity. 

Naomi,  too,  thought  much  of  Muppirn. 
She  fancied  their  present  trial  was  a  judg 
ment  upon  them  for  their  harshness  to 
their  patient,  dutiful  son.  She  longed  to 
see  that  son,  and  ask  his  forgiveness  for 
the  past. 

Most  welcome  then  were  direct  tidings 
from  Muppim.  Huppim's  joyousness  seem 
ed  to  come  back  to  him,  as  he  looked  upon 
the  letter  to  Mrs.  Pay  which  his  brother's 
hand  had  so  lately  traced. 

Naomi  was  completely  melted  when  she 
received  the  earnings  of  her  banished 
son, — so  promptly  sent  to  her  in  her  hour 
of  need  and  trouble.  This,  surely,  was  a 
forgiveness  of  which  the  Jew  knows  noth- 


202  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

ing.      This   was   of  the   same   spirit    as 
Muppim's  gentleness  under  rebuke. 

Month  after  month  a  portion  of  Mup- 
pim's  earnings  was  forwarded  to  his 
father's  family.  Huppim  chafed  sorely  at 
his  own  inaction,  and  when  Muppim  at 
length  wrote  to  him  that  there  was  a 
situation  vacant  in  the  establishment 
where  he  had  won  favor,  and  he  had  liberty 
to  offer  it  to  him,  Huppim  at  once  saw 
the  wisdom  of  accepting  it. 

"  I  cannot  be  left  alone  with  your  father ; 
we  will  all  go  to  Muppim.  I  know  he 
will  not  meet  us  harshly,"  said  Naomi,  in 
a  low,  humble  tone. 

Ard  gave  a  bound  of  joy  at  the  good 
tidings,  and  ran  to  communicate  the  news 
to  his  father.  His  prattling  tongue  easily 
told  what  Naomi  dreaded  to  mention. 

"  Muppim — yes,  to  Muppim.  He  will 
know  what  we  had  better  do,"  said  Jacob, 
helplessly.  So  the  matter  was  settled. 


XXVI. 

$  Christian  family 

(g|l  S  Muppim  and  Huppim  and  Charlie 
£§v  Fay  had  shared  their  childish  pleas 
ures,  they  now  shared  their  present  inter 
ests  and  cares. 

Charlie  was  the  organist  in  a  largo 
church,  and  occupied  in  practising  and  per 
fecting  himself  in  his  art ;  he  felt  it  a  sol 
emn  privilege  to  have  a  share  in  the  praise 
of  the  great  congregation.  With  the  tones 
of  the  solemn  organ  there  went  up  notes 
more  welcome  to  the  angels — even  the 
grateful  homage  of  the  blind  boy's  heart, 
uplifted  to  his  Lord.  Charlie's  occupation 
was  such  as  kept  ever  in  his  mind  the 
great  object  of  existence,  and  he  was  most 
useful  to  his  young  friends  in  reminding 

(203) 


204  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

them  that  the  cares  of  this  life  may  check 
the  good  seed,  as  well  as  its  pomps  and  its 
pleasures. 

The  daily  meeting  with  his  blind  friend 
was  a  constant  help  to  Muppim  in  his 
effort  to  serve  God  without  worldliness, 
and,  in  the  midst  of  business,  to  be  "  fer 
vent  in  spirit7 

Not  a  word  passed  between  Naomi  and 
Muppim  on  the  subject  of  their  separation, 
when  they  once  more  met.  The  mother's 
loving  embrace  told  her  joy  at  the  reunion, 
and  Muppim  had  already  acted  out  his 
free  forgiveness  for  the  past. 

Ard's  delight  knew  no  bounds  ;  he 
constantly  gave  his  approving  testimony 
to  his  brother's  consistent  life,  by  declaring 
"  nobody  was  as  good  as  brother  Muppim." 

It  was  touching  to  see  Muppim's  tender 
care  of  his  broken-spirited  father  ;  he  was 
never  impatient  of  the  poor  man's  childish 
questionings  and  weak  babble.  For  him 


A   CHRISTIAN   FAMILY.  205 

the  best  seat  was  placed  ;  to  him  Muppirn 
rendered  honor,  and  for  him  daily  prayed. 

Such  dutiful  conduct,  such  entire  for 
giveness  acted  day  by  day  upon  Naomi  ; 
she  could  not  withstand  the  evidence  of 
the  truth  of  a  religion  which  thus  spoke  in 
a  language  which  could  not  be  mistaken. 

The  happy  time  came  at  last,  when  the 
Jewish  Passover  was  no  more  kept  at 
Jacob  Myers7 ;  as  a  Christian  family,  the 
mother  and  her  sons  knelt  at  the  Chris 
tian  communion  ;  Ard  was  being  trained 
up  in  the  Christian  faith. 

The  sorrowful  days  of  his  first  embrac 
ing  the  truth  seemed  to  Muppim  as  a  sad 
dream  of  the  past,  to  be  forgotten  in  the 
grateful  joy  of  the  present. 

Poor  Jacob  was  yet  in  the  house,  a 
memento  of  their  Jewish  days  ;  but  even 
he  was  catching  the  Christian  hymns  from 
Ard,  and,  as  it  were,  groping  in  his  dark 
ness  after  Jesus,  the  crucified. 
18 


XXVII. 


f  YEARS  passed  on.  Huppim's  talent 
J  for  business  could  not  escape  the 
notice  of  his  experienced  employers  ;  he 
was  gradually  promoted  to  positions  of 
trust,  until  at  length  he  was  only  next  to 
the  heads  of  the  firm  in  his  influence  in 
the  concern. 

Now  he  had  a  handsome  salary,  and  a 
fair  promise  of  being  one  day  a  partner 
in  the  establishment,  where  his  value  was 
thus  acknowledged. 

Muppirn  saw  with  pleasure  his  brother's 
success  in  the  career  for  which  he  was  so 
well  fitted.  For  his  own  part,  he  had 
maintained  the  respect  of  his  employers, 
but  the  talent  for  money-making  was  not 

(206) 


CONCLUSION.  207 

one  of  his  peculiar  gifts — his  heart  was 
elsewhere,  in  another  work,  and  that  his 
brother  well  knew* 

"  Muppim,"  said  Huppim,  affectionately, 
one  evening,  "  Muppim,  I  want  to  do 
something  for  our  own  people  ;  I  cannot 
rest  until  more  effort  is  made  to  lead  them 
to  the  knowledge  of  Jesus." 

Muppim  grasped  his  brother's  hand,  and 
said,  "  That  subject  is  on  my  mind  day 
and  night !" 

"  I  have  a  plan  by  which  we  can  both  do 
something  for  this  object,"  said  Huppim, 

Muppim  listened  with  earnestness. 

"  This  is  it :  I  am  prospered  ;  the  care 
of  the  family  will  not  hang  heavily  upon 
me  now.  I  want  you  to  devote  yourself 
to  study  ;  you  are  meant  for  better  things 
than  buying  and  selling.  I  want  you  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  our  own  people.  We 
will  have  a  common  purse  ;  I  will  be  the 
merchant  and  you  shall  be  the  minister, 


208  THE   JEWISH    TWINS. 

so  we  can  both  work  for  God  in  our  own 
way." 

Muppim  was  completely  overcome,  as 
much  by  his  brother's  delicate  generosity, 
as  by  the  fulfilment  of  his  own  dearest 
hopes.  This  w^as  the  opportunity  for 
which  he  had  so  longed,  during  his  years 
of  patient  industry  in  a  calling  most  un 
congenial  to  his  tastes. 

For  a  few  moments  Muppim  was  unable 
to  speak;  then  he  said,  "  Huppim,  I  accept 
the  offer  as  freely  as  it  is  made,  and  may 
God  make  me  a  faithful  teacher  of  the 
truth  to  his  ancient  people." 

So  the  twin-brothers  joined  their  hands 
to  make  known  the  religion  of  Jesus  to 
the  children  of  Israel.  So  should  all 
Christians  join  their  prayers,  their  means, 
and  their  efforts  for  this  great  object. 

The  veil  is  more  over  the  hearts  than 
the  heads  of  the  Jews.  They  will  not, 
they  do  not  "  search  the  Scriptures."  They 


CONCLUSION.  209 

need  to  be  urged  to  read  the  Old  Testa 
ment,  which  they  acknowledge,  and  so 
they  will  be  ready  to  embrace  the  New. 

The  Lord  Jesus  himself  said,  "  If  they 
believe  not  Moses  and  the  prophets, 
neither  will  they  believe  though  one  rose 
from  the  dead."  The  Jews  must  learn  to 
study  the  Old  Testament,  praying  that 
they  may  be  guided  to  the  true  Messiah. 

When  Israel  will  seek  to  know  the 
Lord,  then  shall  the  God  of  Jacob  pour 
out  his  blessing  upon  them,  and  turn  them 
unto  him,  as  with  one  mind  and  one  heart. 

We  cannot  follow  Muppiin  in  his  career 
of  usefulness,  or  tell  how  Naomi  rejoiced 
to  see  her  prayers  at  the  birth  of  her  twins 
fulfilled  in  God's  own  way. 

We  may  not  linger  to  describe  Ard's 
joy  over  every  Jew  converted  to  the  truth, 
or  Charlie  Fay's  gratitude  at  the  success  of 
the  ministry  of  his  friend,  for  whom  he  so 
constantly  prayed. 
18* 


210  THE   JEWISH   TWINS. 

The  faithful  laborer  has  a  sure  promise 
of  blessing  on  his  labors,  but  not  in  this 
world  is  counted  up  the  increase. 

When  the  Passovers  and  Communions 
of  earth  are  over,  then,  at  the  marriage  sup 
per  of  the  Lamb,  it  shall  be  seen  who  have 
sought  out  the  "  lost  sheep  of  the  house 
of  Israel,"  and  guided  them  to  that  blessed 
region,  where  there  shall  be  "  one  fold 
and  one  shepherd."  In  the  New  Jerusa 
lem,  they  "  who  have  turned  many  to  right 
eousness  shall  shine  as  the  stars  forever 
and  ever  ;"  and  they  who  have  labored 
for  the  Jews  upon  earth,  will  certain 
ly  be  abundantly  rewarded  by  the  King 
of  the  Jews,  the  everlasting  Son  of  the 
Father 

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Memoir  of  George  B.  Phillips.    ISrno 25 

Children  of  the  Manse 50 

America  as  I  Found  It 1  00 

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ENGLISH  Pulpit  (The).    Svo 150 

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FAMILY  Worship.    Svo.     Morocco,  $5.      Half  calf,  $4.    Cloth  3  00 

FANNY  and  her  Mamma.     Square 50 

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FLEETWOOD'S  History  of  the  Bible.    Illustrated 2  00 

FLORENCE  Egerton ;  or,  Sunshine  and  Shadow.     Illustrated.  75 

FOLLOW  Jesus.    By  the  author  of  "  Come  to  Jesus" 25 

FOED'S  Decapolis.     ISmo 25 


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FOSTER'S  Essays  on  Decision  of  Character,  &c.    12mo 7? 

FOSTER'S  Essays  on  the  Evils  of  Popular  Ignorance.    12mo.. .  75 

FOX'S  Acts  and  Monuments.     Complete.    Illustrated 4  00 

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Christ  our  Law.    16ino CO 

Christ  our  Example  and  Autobiography.    16mo 75 

Sabbath  Musings.    18mo 40 

Scripture  Eeader's  Guide.    18mo 30 

GELD AETS  May  Dundas.    A  Tale.    ISmo 50 

GILFILLAN'S  Martyrs,  Heroes  and  Bards  .of  Covenant.    16mo.  60 

GOODE'S  Better  Covenant CO 

GOODEICH'S  Geography  of  the  Bible 

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•— (Eobert  and  James  A.)  Lives.    8vo 2  09 

HAMILTON'S  (Eev.  James,  D.D.)  Life  in  Earnest.    ISrno 30 

— Mount  of  Olives.    ISmo 30 

Harp  on  Willows.    ISmo 30 

Thankfulness,  and  other  Essays.    ISmo 30 

Life  of  Hall.    32mo,  gilt 80 

Lamp  and  Lantern.    ISrno 40 

Happy  Home.    ISmo 50 

Life  of  Lady  Colquhoun.    ICmo 75 

Life  of  Eichard  Williams.    ICmo 75 

Eoyal  Preacher.     IGrno 85 

HAWKER'S  Poor  Man's  Morning  Portion.    12mo 60 

Do               do.                Evening  Portion.    12mo 60 

Zion's  Pilgrim.    18mo 30 

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Method  for  Prayer.    ISmo 40 

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HERVEY'S  Meditations.    ISmo • 40 

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History  of  Westminster  Assembly.    12mo 75 

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HILL'S  (George)  Lectures  on  Divinity.    Svo 2  00 

HISTORIC  Doubts 50 


HISTOEY  of  the  Puritans  and  Pilgrim  Fathers.    12mo 1  00 

HISTORY  of  the  Reformation  in  Europe.    ISmo 40 

HOOKER  (Rev.  H.),  The  Uses  of  Adversity.    18mo 30 

Philosophy  of  Unbelief.    12mo 75 

HORNETS  Introduction.     2  vols.     Royal  Svo.     Half  cloth 3  50 

Do.               1  vol.,  sheep,  $4.     2  vols.,  sheep,  $5.    2  vols.,  cloth .  4  00 

HORNE'S  (Bishop)  Commentary  on  the  Book  of  Psalms.    Svo.  1  50 

HOWARD  (John) ;  or,  the  Prison  World  of  Europe.    16mo ....  75 

HO  WELL'S  Life— Perfect  Peace.    18mo 30 

HOWE'S  Redeemer's  Tears.    ISmo 50 

HOWIE'S  Scots  Worthies.      Svo 1  50 

HUSS  (John)  Life  of.     Translated  from  the  German 25 

INFANTS  Progress.    ISmo.     Illustrated 50 

JACOBUS  on  Matthew.     With  a  Harmony.    Illustrated 75 

on  Mark  and  Luke 75 

on  John  and  Acts  (preparing) 75 

Catechetical  Questions  on  each  vol.     Per  dozen 1  50 

JAMES'  Anxious  Inquirer.    ISmo 3;) 

Christian  Progress.     ISmo 30 

True  Christian.     ISmo 30 

Widow  Directed.     ISmo 80 

Young  Man  from  Home.    ISmo 30 

Christian  Professor.    IGmo 75 

Christian  Duty.     16mo 75 

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Course  of  Faith.    16mo 75 

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Young  Man's  Friend.    16mo 75 

JAMIE  Gordon ;  or,  the  Orphan.     Illustrated.    ISmo 50 

JANEWAY'S  Heaven  upon  Earth.    ISmo 50 

Token  for  Children.    ISmo 50 

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Do.                      do.                      Cheap  edition.    2  vols 1  50 

Autobiography  and  Reminiscences.     2  vols.    12mo 2  50 

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Christian  Contemplated.     ISmo 40 

JEANIE  Morrison ;  or,  the  Discipline  of  Life.    16mo 75 

By  the  same  Author. 

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JOHNSON'S  Rasselas.    Elegant  edition.    16mo 50 

KENNEDY'S  (Grace)  Profession  is  not  Principle.    ISmo 80 

Father  Clement.    ISmo 

Anna  Ross.    ISmo.    Illustrated SO 

Philip  Colville.    A  Covenanter's  Story 30 


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